Coughlin, Lampitt, Tucker & Benson Bill to Provide Tax Credits to Employers Who Hire Students for Internships Advanced by Senate Committee

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly Democrats Craig J. Coughlin, Pamela R. Lampitt, Cleopatra Tucker and Daniel R. Benson sponsored to help college students find jobs by offering tax credits to employers who hire them for internships was released Monday by a Senate panel.

The bill is part of continuing Assembly Democratic job creation efforts. It was approved by the Assembly in December and released Monday by the Senate budget committee.

“This is an innovative and creative job creation bill geared toward young workers struggling in this economy,” said Coughlin (D-Middlesex).  “This bill is designed to encourage businesses to hire post-secondary students to learn firsthand about their chosen field of study and help them get their foot in the door to eventually secure full-time employment.” 

“No single piece of legislation will pull us out of this sluggish economy, but measures such as this will certainly help.” said Lampitt (D-Camden/Burlington). “It is our obligation to provide New Jersey’s students with the best possible educational experience and internships are one of the best ways to prepare our young people for the workforce and beyond.”

Under the bill (A-1271), corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits would be granted to qualified enterprises for wages paid to qualified interns. A qualified intern would be any individual enrolled and in good standing at a New Jersey four-year institution of higher education, a New Jersey county college or a New Jersey accredited post-secondary business, technical, trade or vocational school.

“Creating jobs, no matter how many, must be our number one priority,” said Tucker (D-Essex).  “In a market as tight as this one, young people need every advantage possible to help break into their chosen field.”

“We need to create jobs in every shape and form, and this is one way to create job opportunities for our younger residents while helping businesses,” said Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “It’s a creative and unique approach that should prove beneficial to our state.”

The credits are allowed in amounts equal to 40 percent of compensation paid to qualified interns or $600 of that compensation, whichever is less. Additional credits would be given to employers hiring three or more qualified interns.

The program will be limited to the first 5,250 qualified interns or 700 taxpayers. Employers will be required to pay interns no less than $8.00 per hour for a term of employment that lasted at least 12 weeks and included a minimum of 14 hours of service per week. All employers must certify that interns are working in New Jersey.

This program would be administered through the Division of Taxation and a report will conclude the effectiveness of the program following its termination. This bill is modeled after the recently enacted Philadelphia Internship Tax Credit program.

The bill can now be considered by the Senate for final legislative approval.