This document is a bill proposing amendments to establish a Youth Internship Program within the Department of Education in the Virgin Islands. The program would provide job training to 11th and 12th grade students, with an emphasis on industrial arts. Employers who hire students through the program for at least 6 months would receive a 50% tax exemption on the student's salary. The bill allocates $250,000 from video lottery proceeds to fund the initial startup costs of the program.

1. COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, YOUTH AND CULTURE
BILL NO. 28-0016
Twenty-Eighth Legislature of the Virgin Islands
MARCH 3, 2009
An Act amending 17 V.I.C., chapter 5, section 48 to establish the Youth Internship
Program within the Department of Education
PROPOSED BY: Senator Alvin L. Williams
Co Sponsor: Adlah “Foncie” Donastorg, Jr.
1 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands:
2 SECTION 1. Title 17 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 5, section 48 is amended by
3 adding subsection (b) to read:
4 “(b) (1) The Department of Education shall establish a “Youth Internship
5 Program” for eleven and twelfth grade students in the public school system, with
6 emphasis in industrial arts training, but not limited to Industrial arts. The program must
7 train students to the maximum level possible and must seek employment in the private
8 sector for the trained students beginning in January of each year and ending six months
9 later.

2. 2
1 (2) Any employer who accepts a student as an apprentice in any field and
2 employs him for not less than six months in any calendar year shall receive a 50% tax
3 exemption on the student’s salary for total funding.
4 (3) To be eligible a student must be in good standing in the eleventh or twelfth
5 grade, be at least sixteen years of age, possess a social security number and receive
6 written parental approval.
7 (4) Upon completion of the program the student shall receive a certificate of
8 completion.”
9 SECTION 2. (a) The sum of $250,000 from Video Lottery Proceeds is
10 appropriated from the General Fund of the Virgin Islands in the fiscal year ending
11 September 30, 2009, to the Department of Education as start up exclusively for the Youth
12 Internship Program and for no other purpose.
13 (b) The funds appropriated in subsection (a) remain available for a period of
14 eighteen months from enactment of this Act.
15 BILL SUMMARY
16
17 This bill amends title 17 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 5, section 48 to mandate the
18 creation of a Youth Internship Program with the Department of Education. Under this
19 program students in the eleventh and twelfth grade will be trained in any field with
20 emphasis on Industrial Arts to provide highly skilled workers for the employment market.
21 Here students will work, learn and earn money all at once.
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23
24 BR09-0388T/February, 2009/AA
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