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Committee approves tax and grant incentives to expand paid internships
Summary
House Bill 5478 would create tax credits and grant incentives to increase paid internships for students, expand eligibility to small and medium businesses and require a state assessment of paid internships in state government.
The committee moved H.B. 5478, a "learn and earn" internship bill (LCO 3388), to the floor and placed it on the consent calendar after a detailed presentation from Representative Haddad.
Haddad told members that evidence shows students with high-quality, paid internships are more likely to be employed and to have higher earnings after graduation. The substitute language broadens the bill to include tax credits for small and medium businesses and a grant program to help nonprofits create paid internships. "Those characteristics include things like a supervisor in the field of study for the student, a mentor ... time for personal reflection," Haddad said, describing criteria to help distinguish quality internships from typical summer jobs.
The substitute also directs the Department of Administrative Services to assess paid internship offerings in state government and propose ways to expand them. Representative Ackert asked whether tax credits would apply across tax classifications (S corps, LLCs, C corps); Haddad said the revised language is intended to include those entity types so smaller employers are not excluded.
Members including Representatives Bracco, Farrar and Ackert expressed support; the bill was added to the consent calendar to be voted on with other items.
