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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment by the Texas Workforce Commission of |
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a pilot program to create voluntary internship opportunities for |
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certain persons receiving unemployment benefits. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 302.018 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 302.018. VOLUNTARY INTERNSHIP PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In |
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this section: |
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(1) "Eligible business" means an entity engaged in |
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commercial activity, other than this state or a political |
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subdivision of this state, subject to Subtitle C, Title 5, that: |
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(A) has workers' compensation insurance |
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coverage; |
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(B) is not engaged in a high-risk industry or |
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occupation as determined by the commission; and |
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(C) is designated as eligible to participate in |
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the pilot program by the executive director. |
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(2) "Intern" means an individual receiving |
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unemployment benefits under Chapter 207 or 209 who returns to the |
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workforce in an unpaid capacity as part of the pilot program. |
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(3) "Pilot program" means the voluntary internship |
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pilot program created under this section. |
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(b) The commission shall establish and implement a |
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voluntary internship pilot program in which an individual receiving |
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unemployment benefits under Chapter 207 or 209 may participate in |
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an unpaid internship with an eligible business without being denied |
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unemployment benefits. |
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(c) Eligible businesses and potential interns must register |
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with the commission in order to participate in the pilot program. |
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(d) An intern enrolled in the pilot program may work for an |
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eligible business for not more than eight weeks and not more than 32 |
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hours per week. |
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(e) The commission shall provide eligible businesses and |
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potential interns with information on the legal requirements |
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necessary for an eligible business to engage the services of an |
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intern in an unpaid capacity. |
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(f) Not later than January 1, 2013, the commission shall |
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report to the legislature regarding the commission's: |
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(1) assessment of the effectiveness of the pilot |
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program in returning participants to paid positions in the |
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workforce; and |
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(2) recommendation regarding the continuation of the |
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pilot program. |
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(g) The commission may adopt rules necessary for the |
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administration of the pilot program. |
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(h) This section expires September 1, 2013. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 207, Labor Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 207.0221 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 207.0221. COMMISSION-APPROVED INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. |
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(a) An individual may not be denied benefits because the individual |
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is participating in the voluntary internship pilot program under |
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Section 302.018 with the approval of the commission. |
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(b) An individual may not be denied benefits for a benefit |
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period in which the individual is participating in the voluntary |
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internship pilot program with the approval of the commission |
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because of the provisions of Section 207.021 relating to the |
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individual's: |
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(1) availability for work; |
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(2) active search for work; or |
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(3) refusal to apply for or refusal to accept suitable |
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work. |
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(c) Approval of participation in the voluntary internship |
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pilot program must be obtained as required by rules adopted by the |
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commission. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |