OH HB548

Establishes the Ohio Service Corps Internship Program administered by the Ohio Commission on Service and Volunteerism to encourage recent Ohio college graduates to remain in the state, gain nonprofit sector experience, and help retire student loan debt.

Eligible participants must be Ohio residents aged 18+, employed by the state, and have received an associate or baccalaureate degree within 12 months of application from Ohio public universities, community colleges, or technical colleges.

Interns are state employees in the unclassified service entitled to $18,000 annual compensation (adjusted annually for inflation), leave, workers' compensation, and other state employee benefits.

Interns are placed in participating nonprofit corporation internships lasting 2-3 years; the state may pay up to $12,000 annually toward each intern's outstanding student loan debt upon completion of each year of service.

Appropriates $1,000,000 in General Revenue Fund money for fiscal year 2013 to administer and implement the program.