R022-1213

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300 310 320 A RESOLUTION CONCERNING: UNPAID INTERNSHIPS WHEREAS: According to the College Employment Institute, three quarters of all American four year college students complete internships within their college career. WHEREAS: A third to a half of these interns are not paid. WHEREAS: Fields such as journalism, politics and film implicitly require unpaid internships to get a full time job in the field. WHEREAS: Lower and middle class students, who are more likely to be people of color than affluent students, are often excluded from unpaid internships because they cannot afford to forgo paid work and pay their living expenses during unpaid internships. WHEREAS: Unpaid interns often do the same work as entry level workers thereby reducing demand for paid workers. WHEREAS: Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the US Department of Labor requires that forprofit employers offering unpaid internships derive no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern and that the internship experience is similar to training that would be given in an educational environment. WHEREAS: By its own admission, the Department of Labor does not enforce these rules and relies on interns to report violations. THEREFORE IT BE RESOLVED: The Maryland Student Legislature urges the Department of Labor to strictly enforce the Fair Labor Standards Act rules on unpaid internships. FURTHER LET BE RESOLVED: The Maryland Student Legislature urges Maryland colleges and universities to stop offering credit for unpaid internships and discourage internship requirements for graduation. MANDATES: Martin OMalley, Governor of Maryland Michael Busch, Speaker of the House of Delegates Thomas V. Mike Miller, President of the Senate Seth D. Harris, Acting Secretary, US Department of Labor Arne Duncan, Secretary, US Department of Education Danette Howard, Secretary of Higher Education, Maryland Higher Education Commission Leonard J. Howie II, Secretary, Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation

SPONSOR: Nicole Zimmerman, Delegation Chairperson, St. Marys College of Maryland