Changes to internship program passed

Senators passed a bill May 10 that will make changes to a recently created internship grant program.

Under LB476, introduced by Holdrege Sen. Tom Carlson, a resident student enrolled full time in a college, university or other institution of higher education in Nebraska is eligible for an internship. Minimum weekly and hourly internship requirements will be replaced with a requirement that the internship be of a sufficient duration to allow the student to gain significant, valuable work experience and knowledge.

The bill also increases grant amounts for distressed areas with a maximum reimbursement of $7,500 or 75 percent of the cost of the internship if an employer shows that an intern was a Federal Pell Grant recipient at the time of the internship grant application.

The bill passed on a 46-0 vote.