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.