A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT appropriating funds for twenty‑five additional slots for the state government internship program.
Whereas, for 36 years, the State Government Internship Program has provided paid internship opportunities for college, graduate, and law students in a variety of State government agencies, and, since its inception, has provided valuable experience to over 2,500 North Carolinian students while offering inexpensive, yet creative, and invaluable support to State agencies; and
Whereas, student applications to the Internship Program have increased appreciably from 376 in 2004 to 598 in 2006 and 468 in 2007; while the Internship Program, which at one period hosted 125 paid summer interns, but in 2002 was reduced to 75 positions; and partially restored to 100 positions in 2006; and
Whereas, the number of State agencies participating in the Internship Program is expected to increase from 24 to 29, creating additional potential internship opportunities for students; and
Whereas, the State Government Internship Program provides legal residents of North Carolina with a compensated experiential opportunity that integrates education, career development, and public service; and
Whereas, through a competitive application process, qualified students in a full range of academic majors are selected for internships in State government agencies, with positions based on project proposals submitted by agency personnel and designed to provide substantive and career‑relevant learning experiences; and
Whereas, while service to State government is a valuable outcome of the Internship Program, the program's primary focus is to provide opportunities for students to build career‑enhancing and leadership skills; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Administration, Youth Advocacy and Involvement Office, the sum of forty-four thousand four hundred eight dollars ($44,408) for the 2007‑2008 fiscal year and the sum of eighty-five thousand two hundred fifty-nine dollars ($85,259) for the 2008‑2009 fiscal year to fund an additional 25 internship slots.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2007.