The proposed bill, Substitute House Bill No. 7094, mandates the Office of Workforce Strategy to establish a working group aimed at developing a plan to create a grant program that would enhance paid internships and work-based learning opportunities for students in postsecondary education. The Chief Workforce Officer is tasked with appointing members to the working group from various sectors, including employers, chambers of commerce, and educational institutions. The plan must evaluate existing work-based learning programs, assess the need for additional opportunities, and outline a model for these programs, including the roles of employers and students, as well as recommendations for grant administration.

The bill also stipulates that the Office of Workforce Strategy must submit the developed plan to the relevant legislative committee by January 1, 2026, and the working group will disband upon submission of the plan or on that date, whichever is later. The fiscal impact of the bill includes a one-time cost of $200,000 in FY 26 for consulting services needed to complete the required analyses, while other components of the plan can be managed with existing resources. The bill introduces new legal language to establish this initiative and does not delete any existing legal provisions.