SB 786

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.