Senate Bill 2963

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A LEGISLATIVE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM TO ALLOW THIRD-YEAR STUDENTS AT ANY STATE INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING TO WORK FOR MEMBERS OF THE SENATE OR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND RECEIVE ACADEMIC CREDIT; TO PROVIDE CERTAIN CONDITIONS ON THIS PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) There is hereby established a Legislative Internship Program to be administered by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, under which any third-year student attending any state institution of higher learning in Mississippi may work for members of the Mississippi Senate or House of Representatives and receive academic credit.

(2) The following conditions shall be applicable to the Legislative Internship Program:

(a) The student must be a full-time student in his third year at a state institution of higher learning located in Mississippi.

(b) The student shall receive no pay or benefits, but will be eligible for academic credit from the sponsoring university.

(c) The students will be assigned to a Senator or member of the House of Representatives who requests the assistance of an intern.

(d) The student shall not require new office space, telephones or computers, but shall utilize facilities and equipment presently located in the New Capitol Building or otherwise directed jointly by the Senate Rules Committee and the House Management Committee.

(e) The student shall not perform functions for which a full-time legislative employee is responsible and all work functions shall be directed under policies jointly adopted by the Senate Rules Committee and the House Management Committee.

(f) The period of the assignment for the student shall be for one (1) semester with the option of extending the assignment for a second semester.

(g) The legislator and the student shall agree upon a schedule and level of support that is mutually satisfactory and takes into account the academic schedule of the student, under policies jointly adopted by the Senate Rules Committee and the House Management Committee.

(h) The student shall be issued a badge that would permit entry to the working areas of the New Capitol Building, not to include the floor of the Senate or House of Representatives during open session.

(i) The Senator or member of the House of Representatives to whom the student is assigned shall complete an evaluation form provided by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning at the end of the assignment period that will be placed in the student's file and used for grading purposes.

(j) For academic purposes, the student shall be known as a "legislative intern."

(3) The legislative internship program authorized under this section shall be instituted beginning in the 2011 Regular Session and as further agreed upon by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and the joint policy of the Senate Rules Committee and the House Management Committee.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2010.