Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to set a minimum wage for certain state interns in Minnesota. It aims to provide financial support to eligible interns who are also students, particularly those who are from lower-income backgrounds.

Main Provisions

• Minimum Wage for Interns: The bill mandates that state interns in Minnesota must be paid at least $15 per hour if they meet certain criteria.
• Eligibility Requirements:
  • Interns eligible for a federal Pell Grant based on the federal needs analysis.
  • Interns must be enrolled in at least nine semester credits per term or the equivalent.
• Applicable Internships: The provision applies to internships across the executive, legislative, or judicial branches of the state government.
• Exclusions: The wage requirement does not apply to internships that qualify as unpaid under federal labor laws.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces a new requirement for a minimum wage for specific state intern positions, setting a financial standard aimed at supporting students from lower-income backgrounds. This represents a change from previous practices where intern compensation was not standardized by specific income criteria.

Relevant Terms

• Minimum wage
• State intern
• Pell Grant
• Federal needs analysis
• Semester credits