Committee expands internship program eligibility, adopts multiple amendments to workforce bills

The House Committee on Labor on Feb. 12 advanced bills aimed at workforce development and internships, adopting a number of amendments intended to broaden access and clarify program mechanics.

Tammy Lee, deputy director at the Department of Transportation, described the practical intent: giving departments a pathway to hire former interns who contributed to projects but were blocked from immediate hire by civil‑service rules or timing issues. Lee said the department had about "114 interns" over a recent summer and "onboarded 7," and warned that delays in hiring lists can cause departments to lose candidates to private industry.

The committee removed a savings clause and adopted technical and substantive amendments to HB 2335, and made multiple changes to HB 2468. For HB 2468 the panel struck language limiting sponsors to private‑sector projects, deleted the word "public" so the program applies to all high school students statewide, clarified that DLIR reimbursements are for wages only, set qualifying graduate timing to within one year of application, and noted two FTEs in the committee report to implement the program.

Deputy Attorney General Lianne Yamashiro had warned of a possible equal‑protection issue because the original draft restricted eligibility to public high school students and urged a clear preamble if a classification is retained. The AG also urged clarification of when a sponsor would be an employer versus a trade or sponsoring organization for reimbursement and supervision responsibilities.

Committee members said they will continue working with the AG and DLIR to finalize sponsor/employer language as HB 2468 moves onward.