HI HB1211

Establishes the State Internship and Workforce Development Program within the Department of Human Resources Development to provide paid internship opportunities in state departments and agencies facing workforce shortages.

Internships range from 89 days to 12 months and include training, mentorship, and evaluation components, with participants receiving stipends or hourly wages and professional development opportunities.

Eligible participants must be Hawaii residents at least 18 years old and meet criteria established by the department; selection based on academic achievement, interest in public service, and alignment with departmental workforce needs.

Hosting departments must demonstrate workforce need, provide mentorship and supervision, conduct performance evaluations, and ensure viable vacant positions are available; participating departments contribute a portion of program costs based on number of interns placed.

Department of Human Resources Development must develop standardized guidelines aligning internship duties with full-time employment qualifications and ensure interns receive priority consideration for permanent positions; participating agencies must submit annual reports to the legislature.