ASSEMBLY STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 3541

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

      The Assembly State and Local Government Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 3541.

      As amended by the committee, this bill establishes a legislative internship program to allow members of the Legislature to employ interns, with the approval of the presiding officer of the member's House.

      The bill requires the legislative internship program to be open to any full-time or part-time student currently attending any accredited institution of higher education in undergraduate level and graduate level programs, with the exception of juris doctorate and PhD programs.

      The bill also requires students who are residents of New Jersey, or who are attending institutions of higher education located within New Jersey, to be granted priority over other applicants to the program.

      Additionally, the bill requires participants to complete one work period with a district office of a legislator.  The work period will be established by each legislator prior to employing an intern.

      This bill also allows the legislator to elect to retain the participant for an additional work period if the participant agrees to continue their internship after completion of the program requirement.

      The bill, as amended, also requires the Legislature, with the assistance of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, to annually apply for and use any federal grant funds or other federal assistance which may be available including, but not limited to, the federal “On-the-Job Training” program funded by the federal “Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.”

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

      (1)  provide an appropriation to the Legislature of such funds as are necessary from the State General Fund, instead of a $1,200,000 appropriation from the State General Fund; and 

      (2)  require the Legislature, with the assistance of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, to annually apply for and use any federal grant funds or other federal assistance which may be available including, but not limited to, the federal “On-the-Job Training” program funded by the federal “Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.”