HBA-TYH, KSM H.B. 471 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 471 By: Wise State Affairs 2/15/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the University of Texas at Austin has a legislative internship program with limited enrollment, but no such programs are available outside of the Austin area. H.B. 471 creates a College Student Legislative Internship Program for students interested in pursuing studies in the areas of government and public policy. The bill requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to set up an internship program whereby students majoring in government, history, public affairs, political science, or other related public policy areas, can come to Austin and participate in a full-time internship with the Texas Legislature for a semester while simultaneously earning college credit. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 61, Education Code, by adding Subchapter T, as follows: SUBCHAPTER T. STATE GOVERNMENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM Sec. 61.851. INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board) to administer a state government internship program in cooperation with general academic teaching institutions and higher education institutions to support students of those institutions who desire to participate in the program. Requires the program to provide internships, as funding permits, for students enrolled in fields involving government, history, public affairs, political science, or other fields involving government or public policy to reside in the Austin area for a semester or term during which the student works in a state office or department in connection with the internship. Requires a participating institution to require the student to enroll in an academic course for credit as a full-time student for the semester or internship term and to complete a written project determined by the institution. Requires the board to seek the cooperation of state offices and agencies in connection with the program and to coordinate the placement of internship students. Requires the board to allocate available internships to participating institutions as the board determines appropriate considering all relevant factors. Requires the board to supervise the internship of a student in the program, in cooperation with the participating institution. Sec. 61.852. STUDENTS ELIGIBLE. Provides that each participating institution selects the students of the institution who receive the internships. Requires the board to establish eligibility and other criteria for institutions to use in selecting students to receive internships. Sec. 61.853. FUNDING. Provides that the program is funded by appropriations made for purposes of the program. Authorizes the board to solicit or accept gifts and grants from any source to fund the program. Authorizes the board to pay a participating student a reasonable stipend if funding permits. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.