Bill Text: NY A05306 | 2009-2010 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: An act to amend the education law, in relation to creating the empire state internship program
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-06 - referred to higher education [A05306 Detail]
Download: New_York-2009-A05306-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 5306 2009-2010 Regular Sessions I N A S S E M B L Y February 11, 2009 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. MORELLE, SCHIMMINGER, CUSICK, WEISENBERG -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CHRISTENSEN, GREENE, MAGEE, McENENY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to creating the empire state internship program THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature hereby finds and 2 declares that secondary school students who may be interested in specif- 3 ic careers have little or no opportunity to explore those interests 4 beyond the classroom. 5 The legislature also finds that students who gain practical work expe- 6 rience through internships generally become more committed to their 7 academic fields, more serious about their course work, and more 8 constructive contributors in the classroom. 9 The legislature further finds that internships provide exposure to 10 advanced technologies and equipment not available in the classroom. 11 Students learn about the competitive nature of job markets and what is 12 needed to prepare themselves to make career choices. 13 Therefore, the legislature declares that students interested in 14 exploring opportunities related to their specific career interests be 15 eligible for internships and deserve recognition that exemplifies the 16 students' scholastic achievement. 17 S 2. The education law is amended by adding a new article 12-B to read 18 as follows: 19 ARTICLE 12-B 20 EMPIRE STATE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM 21 SECTION 565. SHORT TITLE. 22 566. DEFINITIONS. 23 567. ADMINISTRATION. 24 568. WORK-BASED LEARNING COORDINATION. EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD02290-02-9 A. 5306 2 1 569. PROGRAM COMPONENTS. 2 570. REPORTING AND EVALUATION. 3 571. RULES AND REGULATIONS. 4 S 565. SHORT TITLE. THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE KNOWN AND MAY BE CITED AS 5 THE "EMPIRE STATE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM". 6 S 566. DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS ARTICLE THE FOLLOWING 7 TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS: 8 1. "INTERNSHIP" SHALL MEAN AN ACTIVITY THAT PLACES A STUDENT IN A 9 LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, OTHER THAN THE CLASSROOM, PROVIDING A WORKSITE 10 ASSIGNMENT DESIGNED TO HELP STUDENTS UTILIZE AND APPLY PRINCIPLES AND 11 THEORIES TAUGHT IN THE CLASSROOM TO THE WORKPLACE; 12 2. "EMPLOYER" SHALL MEAN PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT EMPLOYERS; 13 3. "STIPEND" SHALL MEAN A GRANT OF SUCH FUNDS AS MAY BE AVAILABLE FROM 14 FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL SOURCES AWARDED TO A PARTICIPATING STUDENT AS 15 PART OF A WORKPLACE EXPERIENCE; 16 4. "MENTOR" SHALL MEAN AN INDIVIDUAL DESIGNATED BY THE EMPLOYER IN THE 17 WORKPLACE TO INSTRUCT AND CRITIQUE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE STUDENT, CHAL- 18 LENGE THE STUDENT TO PERFORM WELL, WORK IN CONSULTATION WITH THE 19 WORK-BASED LEARNING COORDINATOR AND THE EMPLOYER, AND SHALL POSSESS THE 20 SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO BE MASTERED BY A STUDENT AT THE WORKPLACE; 21 5. "ELIGIBLE STUDENT" SHALL MEAN ANY STUDENT SIXTEEN YEARS OR OLDER 22 ENROLLED IN A PUBLIC SECONDARY INSTITUTION AS A JUNIOR IN THE YEAR 23 PRECEDING THE AWARD; 24 6. "WORK-BASED LEARNING COORDINATOR" SHALL MEAN AN INDIVIDUAL WHO 25 HOLDS CERTIFICATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT AS A DIVERSIFIED COOPERATIVE 26 EDUCATION COORDINATOR AS ESTABLISHED IN SUBDIVISION (F) OF SECTION 27 80-2.5 OF TITLE EIGHT OF THE NEW YORK STATE CODES, RULES AND REGULATIONS 28 OR HAS COMPLETED COURSE WORK OR IN-SERVICE TRAINING PURSUANT TO SECTION 29 FIVE HUNDRED SIXTY-EIGHT OF THIS ARTICLE. 30 S 567. ADMINISTRATION. 1. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH AN EMPIRE 31 STATE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM HEREAFTER KNOWN AS "THE PROGRAM". SUCH PROGRAM 32 SHALL INCLUDE COMPONENTS DEVELOPED PURSUANT TO SECTION FIVE HUNDRED 33 SIXTY-NINE OF THIS ARTICLE. 34 2. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL: 35 (A) CONSULT WITH STATE AGENCIES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE 36 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPING THE PROGRAM; AND 37 (B) COORDINATE WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCA- 38 TION TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO ASSESS AND EVALUATE THE INTERNSHIP 39 AS PART OF AN APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION INTO A POST SECONDARY EDUCA- 40 TIONAL OR TRAINING PROGRAM. 41 3. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL: 42 (A) PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS INTERESTED IN 43 ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING SUCH PROGRAM; AND 44 (B) DEVELOP GUIDELINES FOR THE PROGRAM SUBJECT TO THE COMMISSIONER'S 45 RULES AND REGULATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY-ONE OF 46 THIS ARTICLE. GUIDELINES SHALL, AT A MINIMUM, INCLUDE: 47 (I) STATEMENT OF PROGRAM OBJECTIVES; 48 (II) DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF WORK-BASED LEARNING COORDINATORS; 49 (III) DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND EMPLOYER 50 INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO MENTORING THE STUDENT; 51 (IV) PROCEDURES FOR ESTABLISHING INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR ELIGIBLE 52 STUDENTS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: (1) DEFINITION OF THE POSITION 53 AVAILABLE; (2) DESCRIPTION OF THE TASKS INVOLVED IN EACH POSITION; AND 54 (3) EXPLANATION OF THE SKILLS NEEDED TO PERFORM THOSE TASKS; 55 (V) STATEMENT OF THE MANNER IN WHICH PROGRAM COMPONENTS PURSUANT TO 56 SECTION FIVE HUNDRED SIXTY-NINE OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE INTEGRATED WITH A. 5306 3 1 ACADEMIC CURRICULA SUPPORTING EFFORTS OF STUDENTS TO MEET THE STATE'S 2 HIGHER LEARNING STANDARDS; 3 (VI) STRATEGIES FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ENSURE STUDENT PARTICIPATION; 4 (VII) PROCEDURES FOR STUDENT APPLICATIONS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED 5 TO: 6 (1) A SCHEDULE FOR DATES FOR APPLICATION, SUCH THAT THE INTERNSHIP CAN 7 BEGIN NO LATER THAN OCTOBER FIRST OF THE STUDENT'S SENIOR YEAR; 8 (2) CRITERIA FOR STUDENT SELECTION INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: (A) 9 STUDENT CAREER INTEREST; (B) ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE; AND (C) AN INTERVIEW 10 WITH A WORK-BASED LEARNING COORDINATOR; 11 (VIII) PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE INTERNSHIP 12 INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: (1) ATTENDANCE; (2) PARTICIPATION 13 REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS; (3) COMPLETION OF A FINAL PROJECT PURSUANT TO 14 SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION FIVE HUNDRED SIXTY-NINE OF THIS ARTICLE; AND 15 (4) COMPLETION OF ALL OTHER ACADEMIC COURSES; AND 16 (IX) PROCEDURES FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO EVALUATE AND ASSESS EACH 17 INTERNSHIP FOR THE PURPOSE OF AWARDING ACADEMIC CREDITS. 18 S 568. WORK-BASED LEARNING COORDINATION. EACH PARTICIPATING SCHOOL 19 DISTRICT SHALL IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH GUIDELINES COORDINATE 20 STUDENTS AND EMPLOYERS PARTICIPATING IN SUCH PROGRAM BY: 21 1. IDENTIFYING APPROPRIATE CERTIFIED STAFF WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT 22 SUCH AS A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR WHO EITHER HAS EXPERIENCE OR HAS RECEIVED 23 IN-SERVICE TRAINING ENABLING HIM OR HER TO COORDINATE INTERNSHIP ACTIV- 24 ITIES; OR 25 2. ENTERING INTO A COOPERATIVE SHARED SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH A BOARD 26 OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATION SERVICES (BOCES) TO SECURE THE SERVICES OF A 27 WORK-BASED LEARNING COORDINATOR. 28 S 569. PROGRAM COMPONENTS. THE PROGRAM SHALL INCLUDE, BUT IS NOT 29 LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS: 1. WORKPLACE EXPERIENCES. WORKPLACE 30 EXPERIENCES OFFERED BY EMPLOYERS SHALL: 31 (A) TAKE PLACE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR OR IN ANY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE NOT- 32 FOR-PROFIT AGENCY OTHER THAN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT; 33 (B) BE FOR A DURATION OF NOT LESS THAN THREE MONTHS AND INCLUDE A 34 MINIMUM OF ONE HUNDRED HOURS; 35 (C) CONFORM WITH THE REQUIRED NEW YORK STATE LABOR LAWS; 36 (D) INVOLVE THE DIRECT APPLICATION OF SKILLS LEARNED IN THE CLASSROOM; 37 (E) INCLUDE THE ASSIGNMENT OF A WORKPLACE MENTOR; 38 (F) CARRY ACADEMIC CREDIT PURSUANT TO DEPARTMENTAL GUIDELINES DEVEL- 39 OPED IN SECTION FIVE HUNDRED SIXTY-SEVEN OF THIS ARTICLE; AND 40 (G) MAY INCLUDE A STIPEND, AT LOCAL DISCRETION, PROVIDED THAT SUCH 41 AWARD SHALL NOT BE COUNTED AS INCOME FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING 42 ELIGIBILITY FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND CARE AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION 43 EIGHTEEN OF SECTION TWO OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW AND THAT THE STUDENT 44 IS NOT SIMULTANEOUSLY EMPLOYED BY THE EMPLOYER PROVIDING THE WORKPLACE 45 EXPERIENCE. 46 2. FINAL PROJECT. THE INTERNSHIP SHALL INCLUDE A FINAL PROJECT WHICH 47 MAY BE EITHER A WRITTEN OR ORAL PRESENTATION CONNECTED WITH THE WORK 48 EXPERIENCE. 49 3. CERTIFICATE. UPON COMPLETION OF MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE 50 INTERNSHIP THE STUDENT SHALL BE AWARDED THE EMPIRE STATE INTERNSHIP 51 CERTIFICATE WHICH SHALL BE NOTED ON THE STUDENT'S TRANSCRIPT. 52 S 570. REPORTING AND EVALUATION. ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER FIRST, TWO THOU- 53 SAND ELEVEN AND EVERY OCTOBER FIRST THEREAFTER, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL 54 REPORT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE 55 SENATE, THE CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE, THE CHAIR OF THE 56 SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND THE CHAIR OF THE LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION A. 5306 4 1 ON SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND CAREER EDUCATION ON THE PROGRAM. SUCH REPORT 2 SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING: 3 1. IDENTIFICATION OF PARTICIPATING DISTRICTS; 4 2. IDENTIFICATION OF PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS IN EACH DISTRICT; 5 3. NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN EACH SCHOOL PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM; 6 4. NUMBER AND TYPE OF BUSINESSES PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM; AND 7 5. DESCRIPTION OF THE TYPES OF INTERNSHIPS. 8 S 571. RULES AND REGULATIONS. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROMULGATE RULES 9 AND REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE. 10 S 3. This act shall take effect September 1, 2010.