2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
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2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 485
October 12, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives HAYWOOD, J. ANDERSON, STUBBS,
BARE, RATCLIFF, GOYKE, MYERS, CONLEY, CONSIDINE, SHELTON, ANDRACA and
DRAKE, cosponsored by Senators L. JOHNSON, SMITH and SPREITZER. Referred
to Committee on Workforce Development and Economic Opportunities.
1 AN ACT to create 20.445 (1) (bn) and 106.135 of the statutes; relating to: an
2 intern placement program administered by the Department of Workforce
3 Development and making an appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires the Department of Workforce Development to establish a
program for the placement of paid interns with Wisconsin businesses. Under the bill,
each intern must be at least 18 years old, be enrolled in an institution of higher
education, and come from a household whose income does not exceed 300 percent of
the federal poverty line based on family size. Each intern must be paid a stipend of
at least $15 per hour, which may be paid for up to 20 hours per week of work for work
performed during certain periods set forth in the bill that correspond to the academic
school year. The bill requires that the stipend be disregarded in establishing
household income for purposes of obtaining public benefits under any state program.
Additionally, the bill requires DWD to seek to coordinate with the private sector to
administer the intern placement program and to provide matching funds for
purposes of paying intern stipends. The bill appropriates $500,000 to DWD for the
program.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
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ASSEMBLY BILL 485 SECTION 1
1 SECTION 1. 20.445 (1) (bn) of the statutes is created to read:
2 20.445 (1) (bn) Intern placement program. A sum sufficient for the intern
3 stipend paid under s. 106.135 (2) (b). No more than $500,000 may be expended from
4 this appropriation.
5 SECTION 2. 106.135 of the statutes is created to read:
6 106.135 Equal opportunity intern program. (1) In this section,
7 “low-income household” means a household having an income that does not exceed
8 300 percent of the federal poverty line based on family size.
9 (2) The department shall establish a program under which it attempts to place
10 interns with businesses in this state, subject to all of the following requirements:
11 (a) Each intern shall be at least 18 years old, be enrolled in an institution of
12 higher education, and come from a low-income household.
13 (b) Each intern shall be paid a stipend of at least $15 per hour for services
14 provided to the business. The stipend may be paid for up to 20 hours per week of work
15 under par. (e). The stipend shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.445 (1)
16 (bn) and any matching funds provided under par. (d).
17 (c) The stipend an intern receives under par. (b) shall be disregarded in
18 establishing household income for purposes of obtaining public benefits under any
19 state program.
20 (d) The department shall seek to coordinate with private entities to administer
21 the intern placement program under this section and shall seek matching funds from
22 nonstate sources for purposes of paying stipends under par. (b).
23 (e) A stipend may be paid to an intern under this section only for work
24 performed during a 16-week spring term beginning on the 2nd Monday in January,
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ASSEMBLY BILL 485 SECTION 2
1 a 10-week summer term beginning on the first Monday in June, and a 16-week fall
2 term beginning on the day after Labor Day.
3 (END)