STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2453

with Assembly Floor Amendments

(Proposed by Assemblywoman MCCOY)

ADOPTED: JUNE 30, 2026

      These floor amendments clarify that the legislative internship program established by the bill will be open to individuals currently attending an accredited institution of higher education, with the exception of juris doctor (JD) and doctor of philosophy (PhD) programs.  These floor amendments remove the requirement for the Legislature, with the assistance of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DLWD), to apply for and use any federal grant funds or other federal assistance.  Instead, these floor amendments permit the Legislature, in coordination with the DLWD, to partner with participating entities authorized by the department to administer internship programs, including but not limited to local workforce development boards and summer youth work experience program grantees, to support eligible participants in the legislative internship program through available federal or State workforce development funding, subject to the availability of funds and consistent with all applicable federal and State laws, regulations, eligibility requirements, and allowable requirements.

      These floor amendments provide that eligibility determinations for participants receiving services or funding through a federal or State workforce development program will be made by the applicable participating entity, that legislative offices participating in the program will serve as approved internship worksites and will comply with any applicable federal and State requirements governing workforce development activities and work-based learning programs, and that no federal workforce development funds utilized pursuant to this bill will be used for political activity, campaign activity, or any activity prohibited under applicable federal or State law.