SB 764 Summary: Step Into Success Internship Program

• Establishes the Step Into Success internship program within the Department of Children and Families for foster youth ages 16-26 to develop workforce skills and transition to independent living, with operations beginning by January 1, 2023.

• Requires eligible foster youth to receive priority consideration and interviews for internship positions with seven approved state agencies (DCF, Department of Health, Agency for Health Care Administration, Department of Education, Department of Environmental Protection, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and Office of State Fire Marshal).

• Mandates the department provide minimum 2 hours of interview training and 4 hours of professional development training to participants, along with trauma-informed training to assigned mentors, with internships limited to 20 hours per week and maximum 1 year duration.

• Requires approved agencies to recruit employee mentors who receive up to $1,000 per intern per fiscal year and establishes that intern compensation cannot be counted as earned income for benefits eligibility purposes.

• Appropriates $1,292,378 in recurring funds and $350,376 in nonrecurring funds for fiscal year 2022-2023 and requires annual reporting to the Governor and Legislature beginning October 1, 2023.