MN SF2940

Extends discrimination protections to unpaid interns, prohibiting employers from discriminating based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability.

Defines an unpaid intern as an individual performing work for training purposes where the employer is not committed to hire at the conclusion, both parties agree no wages are owed, and the work supplements education, provides individual benefit, does not displace regular employees, and occurs under close supervision.

Requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for interns' known disabilities and prohibits discriminatory language in internship advertisements.

Grants interns access to employer internal complaint procedures, ability to file grievances, and eligibility for civil penalties and punitive damages up to $25,000 under existing discrimination law.

Specifies that the law does not create an employment relationship between employers and interns for purposes of other state laws; effective October 1, 2016.