Bill Text: NJ A4634 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Requires Rutgers Cooperative Extension to establish internship pilot program at certain farms; appropriates $2.1 million.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-10-13 - Reported out of Asm. Comm. with Amendments, and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee [A4634 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-A4634-Amended.html
[Second Reprint]
ASSEMBLY, No. 4634
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
220th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 15, 2022
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblyman ROY FREIMAN
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Assemblywoman MILA M. JASEY
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Sauickie
SYNOPSIS
Requires Rutgers Cooperative Extension to establish internship pilot program at certain farms; appropriates $2.1 million.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee on October 13, 2022, with amendments.
An Act requiring 2[county boards of agriculture] the Rutgers Cooperative Extension2 to establish 2[a summer] an2 internship pilot program at certain farms, and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. 1[Each] Not more than 180 days after the effective date of this act, 2[each1 county board of agriculture] the Rutgers Cooperative Extension2 shall establish 2[a summer] an2 internship pilot program to provide working interns to farms in the State. 1[The] 2[Each county1] The2 pilot program shall operate 2[between May and September of each year,]2 for two years1[. Each], and 2[each1 county board of agriculture] the cooperative extension2 shall develop application, selection, stipend distribution, and evaluation processes1,1 consistent with the provisions of this section1,1 in order to implement the pilot program 2[1in the respective county1]2.
b. 1[A county board of agriculture shall develop an application process by which interested persons can apply to participate in the pilot program as summer interns.]1 In order to be eligible 1to participate as 2[a summer] an2 intern in a farming internship pilot program established pursuant to subsection a. of this section1, a person shall:
(1) be a student 2over the age of 182 at a high school, vocational school, or institution of higher education, including 1[as]1 a graduate student;
1(2) submit an application to the 2[appropriate county board of agriculture,] cooperative extension2 in a form and manner prescribed by the 2[board] cooperative extension2;1 and
1[(2)] (3)1 enter into a written agreement with the 2[county board of agriculture] cooperative extension2 and 1[an owner of an eligible farm that] a farming internship provider approved pursuant to subsection c. of this section, which1 specifies the terms and conditions of the internship pilot program1[, including] and describes the content of1 the 2[lesson plan] learning objectives2 developed pursuant to paragraph (4) of subsection 1[d.] e.1 of this section.
c. 1[The] In order to be eligible to participate as a farming internship provider in a farming internship pilot program established pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the1 owner of a farm 1[may apply] shall:
(1) submit an application1 to the 2[appropriate county board of agriculture,] cooperative extension2 in a form and manner 1[to be determined] prescribed1 by the 2[board] cooperative extension2 1[, in order to participate in the pilot program. Other];
(2) agree not to receive any financial or other compensation, other1 than the labor of the intern, 1[the owner of a farm shall not receive any financial compensation]1 for participating 1as a farming internship provider1 in the 2[1county's1]2 pilot program1[. In order to participate in the pilot program, the owner of the farm shall]; and
(3)1 enter into a written agreement with the 2[county board of agriculture] cooperative extension2 and 1[the] an1 intern 1[that] approved pursuant to subsection b. of this section, which1 specifies the terms and conditions of the internship1[, including] and describes1 the 1content of the1 2[lesson plan] learning objectives2 developed pursuant to paragraph (4) of subsection 1[d.] e.1 of this section.
d. 2[A county board of agriculture] The cooperative extension2 shall 1[review] approve or reject1 applications received pursuant to subsections b. and c. of this section, and 1shall1 assign 1[a person] interns1 approved 1[for the summer intern pilot program with an] pursuant to subsection b. of this section to work for farming internship providers1 approved 1[farm owner] pursuant to subsection c. of this section1. A 1[farm] farming internship provider1 shall not be assigned more than 10 interns per year.
1e.1 The 2[county board of agriculture] cooperative extension2 shall develop appropriate terms and conditions for 1[the] a farming1 internship 1commenced under the 2[county's]2 pilot program1, which 1terms and conditions1 shall:
(1) 1[include] identify1 the expected duration of the internship;
(2) provide the expected schedule and working hours of the intern, which shall not exceed 40 hours per week;
(3) clearly state the hourly wage or other compensation structure for the intern, which compensation shall be paid by the 2[county board of agriculture] cooperative extension2 in a manner consistent with all applicable State and federal laws; and
(4) include a 2[lesson plan] list of learning objectives2, which enumerates the knowledge and skills that are to be transmitted 1to each approved intern1 by 1[the owner of the farm] each approved farming internship provider1, or 1[an] by a designated1 employee 1[of the farm delegated by the owner, to the intern] thereof1, which knowledge and skills may include, but 1[are] need1 not 1be1 limited to:
(a) planting, caring for, or harvesting agricultural crops;
(b) rearing, breeding, or slaughtering farm animals;
(c) fertilizing and properly maintaining agricultural soil;
(d) operating or maintaining agricultural vehicles and machinery;
(e) increasing the sustainability of, or mitigating pollution from, agricultural operations; and
(f) producing, marketing, and selling agricultural products.
1[e.] f.1 (1) The Department of Agriculture shall distribute the funds appropriated by section 2 of this act to 2[county boards of agriculture] the cooperative extension2 in order to fund the internship pilot program 2[1being1]2 established 1and implemented 2[by each board,1]2 pursuant to this section. The funds shall be annually distributed 1,1 2[in a non-competitive manner 1,1 to county boards of agriculture in proportion to the number of interns expected to participate in]2 1[the] 2[each such1 county's pilot program during the summer next following the distribution of the funds. The amount distributed to a county board of agriculture] and2 shall not exceed the expected compensation to be paid to 1approved1 2[summer]2 interns 1[approved for the pilot program established pursuant to subsection a. of this section]1 in the year in which the funds are distributed, plus 2[five] seven2 percent, which additional 2[five] seven2 percent shall be used by the 2[county] cooperative extension2 to administer 2and market2 the pilot program.
(2) The department may audit, or cause to be audited, 2[a county board of agriculture] the cooperative extension2 in order to determine compliance with the provisions of this section.
1[f.] g.1 No later than six months after the completion of the second year of the pilot 1[program] 2[programs1] program2 established pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the Department of Agriculture shall submit to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature 1,1 a report on 2[1all1]2 the pilot 2[programs] program2 established pursuant to this act. 2[A county board of agriculture] The cooperative extension2 shall, upon request, provide information to the department as may be necessary for the development of the report. The report shall 1[provide] include1 an account of all State funds distributed pursuant to this act, a summary of the pilot program implemented by 2[each county board of agriculture] the cooperative extension2, and an assessment of the success 1[in] of1 the 1[program] pilot 2[programs1] program2 in cultivating an interest in agriculture 1[in] among1 students in the State.
2. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Agriculture the amount of $2.1 million, in order to implement the provisions of section 1 of this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire upon the submission by the Department of Agriculture of the report required pursuant to subsection 2[f.] g.2 of section 1 of this act.
