As the Legislature gets ready to start its regular session next week, two South Florida Democrats are pushing to expand internship opportunities by offering corporate income tax credits to businesses.
This week, state Rep. Dan Daley, D-Coral Springs, filed a bill to offer a “credit against the corporate income tax to a business or an organization that employs a degree-seeking student for an internship.” State Sen. Bobby Powell, D-West Palm Beach, filed similar bills in the upper chamber last month and on Monday.
“This legislation would encourage businesses to provide our students with opportunities to advance their knowledge and experience, preparing them for a career or trade after college,” said Daley on Tuesday. “This tax credit program will benefit all parties. Florida businesses will be incentivized to seek diverse, new talent and college students will receive hands on training in their area of study and be provided an opportunity that they may not be able to afford otherwise.”
“Most students must have part-time jobs to pay off educational expenses while balancing a full course load every semester. As a result, students miss out on an opportunity to gain valuable experience in their respective fields in order to make ends meet,” said Powell. “The implementation of SB 1412 will eliminate this disadvantage amongst a majority of students and allow equal representation in various fields.”
Daley and state Rep. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park, floated similar proposals last year but withdrew them before this month.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
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