CA AB2088

Establishes the California Pilot Paid Internship Program with a $575,000,000 appropriation from the General Fund to support paid internships for up to 40,000 grade 12 pupils annually in eight-week programs.

Requires local educational agencies (school districts, charter schools, county offices of education) to provide participating pupils with an hourly wage of $14, with $7 from grant funds and $7 from employer matching funds.

Limits eligible internship programs to those offering hands-on career technical education experience in engineering, health care, mathematics, manufacturing, science, teaching, and technology, with internships occurring during the summer between 11th and 12th grade.

Requires grant recipients to report annual internship data to the Superintendent by December 31 of each fiscal year, including number of internships, total hours worked, and industries represented.

Makes grant funds available for expenditure from fiscal year 2023–24 through 2025–26 and requires an independent program evaluation with a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2027.