Bill Text: CA AB266 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Assembly Bill 266

Introduced

Bill Title: Legislative Internship Program.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-4)

Status: (Failed) 2024-02-01 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB266 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB266-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 266

Introduced by Assembly Member Boerner Horvath

January 19, 2023

An act to add Chapter 4.1 (commencing with Section 89415) to Part 55 of Division 8 of Title 3 of the Education Code, and to add Section 9152 to the Government Code, relating to legislative internships.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 266, as introduced, Boerner Horvath. Legislative Internship Program.

Existing law establishes the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in the state.

This bill would establish the Legislative Internship Program under the administration of the California State University’s Center for California Studies to provide paid internship opportunities at offices of the Legislature, to qualified applicants, as provided. The bill would establish the Legislative Internship Program Fund as the initial depository of all moneys appropriated, donated, or otherwise received for the program, and upon appropriation by the Legislature, would require the Center for California Studies to distribute moneys in the fund to program participants, as specified.

Existing law requires all appropriations for contingent expenses of the Senate and the Assembly and legislative committees thereof to be available and disbursed, as provided.

This bill would prohibit these funds from being used to provide a paid internship position pursuant to the Legislative Internship Program.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Chapter 4.1 (commencing with Section 89415) is added to Part 55 of Division 8 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read:

CHAPTER 4.1. Legislative Internship Program

89415.

This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Legislative Internship Program.

89415.2.

As used in this chapter, the following definitions apply:

(a) “Center” means the California State University’s Center for California Studies.

(b) “Fund” means the Legislative Internship Program Fund established pursuant to this chapter.

(d) “Program” means the Legislative Internship Program established pursuant to this chapter.

89415.4.

(a) The Legislative Internship Program is hereby established under the administration of the California State University’s Center for California Studies. The center shall collaborate with the University of California, the California Community Colleges, and the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities to ensure access to the program is available to students enrolled in a variety of postsecondary programs throughout the state.

(b) Upon appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another statute, the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) shall be allocated annually from the General Fund to the center for both of the following purposes:

(1) Up to forty thousand dollars($40,000) of each annual appropriation for the administration and solicitation of program applications.

(2) Providing two paid internship positions per year to each office, with each paid internship position receiving a weekly stipend of three hundred forty dollars ($340) for 20 hours of work performed each week.

(c) Each paid internship position shall last for at least three months, but shall not exceed six months. Interns shall work 20 hours per week. Interns shall only perform duties that serve a legislative purpose. Interns shall not engage in political activity as part of the internship.

(d) The center shall have all of the following duties:

(1) Developing an application process for students attending any accredited postsecondary educational institution in the state to participate in the program.

(2) Developing a broad and effective outreach effort to promote the availability and merits of the program.

(3) Conducting the selection process for internship applicants.

(4) Entering into memoranda of understandings with the Legislature to accomplish all of the following:

(A) Development of a system for placing qualified candidates into offices as interns under the program.

(B) Development of a system for monitoring interns throughout the completion of their internship obligations.

(D) Providing interns with a written description of their tasks and responsibilities in offices.

(E) Providing interns with appropriate training and materials, including mandatory employee trainings.

(5) Determining criteria for selecting qualified candidates. The criteria shall include, at a minimum, all of the following:

(A) Requiring a qualified applicant to be at least 18 years of age, a resident of the state, and enrolled at an accredited postsecondary educational institution in the state.

(B) A process for receiving and reviewing an applicant’s academic and employment records and letters of recommendation. This subparagraph shall only be implemented in a manner that is consistent with state and federal privacy laws.

(e) Upon placement in an office under the program, an intern shall be considered an hourly employee of the center. It is the intent of the Legislature that interns are paid a weekly stipend of three hundred forty dollars ($340). Internships shall not create an assumption of an employment relationship between the intern and any office or the Legislature.

(f) This chapter shall not be construed to preclude any office from having volunteers, including, but not limited to, unpaid interns.

89415.6.

The Legislative Internship Program Fund is hereby established as the initial depository of all moneys appropriated, donated, or otherwise received for the program. Upon appropriation by the Legislature, the center shall distribute moneys in the fund to eligible recipients in accordance with this chapter. The center shall administer the fund. Funds appropriated from the fund to pay interns pursuant to the program are not expenditures of the Legislature for operating expenses and equipment within the meaning of Section 7.5 of Article IV of the California Constitution.

89415.8.

The center shall be responsible for developing rules governing the administration of the program and the fund.

SEC. 2.

Section 9152 is added to the Government Code, to read:

9152.

(a) Funds allocated pursuant to Section 9126 shall not be used to provide a paid internship position in an office of a Member of the Senate pursuant to Chapter 4.1 (commencing with Section 89415) of Part 55 of Division 8 of Title 3 of the Education Code.

(b) Funds allocated pursuant to Section 9127 shall not be used to provide a paid internship position in an office of a Member of the Assembly pursuant to Chapter 4.1 (commencing with Section 89415) of Part 55 of Division 8 of Title 3 of the Education Code.

(c) This section shall not be construed to preclude an office of a Member of the Legislature from having volunteers, including, but not limited to, unpaid student interns.