Alvarado Bill Lets School Funds Reimburse Businesses For Student Interns

The text as introduced · 520 words

89R1928 AMF-D

By: Alvarado
S.B. No. 786

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to authorizing school districts to provide funding using

money received under the Foundation School Program to

community-based organizations for purposes of reimbursing private

employers for paid internships provided to certain students in

career and technology education programs in the district.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 29.189 to read as follows:

Sec. 29.189. CONTRACT TO REIMBURSE FOR PAID INTERNSHIP.

(a) In this section, "community-based organization" has the

meaning assigned by Section 303.001, Labor Code.

(b) To encourage private employers to participate with

school districts in providing career and technology education to

assist students in developing the knowledge, skills, and

competencies necessary for a broad range of career opportunities,

the board of trustees of a school district may contract with a

community-based organization to:

(1) match students in grade 11 or 12 who are

participating in a career and technology education program in the

district with paid internships or similar programs provided by

private employers; and

(2) reimburse private employers for all or part of the

cost of providing paid internships or similar programs to students

described by Subdivision (1) using funds provided to the

community-based organization by the district.

(c) A contract described by Subsection (b) must:

(1) require each paid internship or similar program

provided to the school district's students to primarily promote a

public purpose of the district relating to career and technology

education;

(2) include provisions under which the school district

is granted sufficient control to ensure that the public purpose

under Subdivision (1) is accomplished and the district receives a

benefit from the contract; and

(3) ensure that each student employed under a paid

internship or similar program is paid at least the minimum wage

required by law.

(d) In providing funds to a community-based organization

for the purposes of reimbursing a private employer under a contract

under Subsection (b), the school district may use funds allocated

to the district for career and technology education under Section

48.106.

(e) A community-based organization with which a school

district contracts under Subsection (b) may serve as the employer

of record for a student employed under a paid internship or similar

program provided under a contract described by Subsection (b).

(f) Completion of a paid internship or similar program

provided under a contract described by Subsection (b) may satisfy a

requirement to complete a practicum as part of a school district's

career and technology education program.

SECTION 2. Section 48.106(c), Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(c) At least 55 percent of the funds allocated under this

section must be used :

(1) in providing career and technology education

programs in grades 7 through 12 ; or

(2) in providing funding to a community-based

organization under a contract entered into under Section 29.189 for

purposes of reimbursing private employers for providing paid

internships or similar programs to students in career and

technology education programs .

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.