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COUGHLIN & LAMPITT INTRODUCE BILL PROVIDING BUSINESS AND INCOME TAX CREDITS TO EMPLOYERS WHO HIRE STUDENTS FOR INTERNSHIPS

Assemblyman Craig J. Coughlin and Assemblywoman Pamela R. Lampitt have introduced legislation to help college students find gainful employment by providing Corporate Business and Gross Income Tax credits to employers who hire post-secondary students for internships.

“Presently, the unemployment rate for young people between the ages of 18 and 25 is over 25 percent. This bill is designed to accomplish two goals directly related to high youth unemployment. First, the bill encourages businesses to hire post-secondary students to learn firsthand about their chosen field of study. Secondly, the bill incentivizes businesses to hire young people so students can help pay for their educations among other living expenses” said Coughlin (D-Woodbridge). “Creating jobs, no matter how many, must be our number one priority.”

“No single piece of legislation will pull us out of this sluggish economy, but a measure like this will certainly help.” said Lampitt (D-Voorhees), Chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee. “It is our obligation to provide New Jersey’s students with the best possible educational experience and internships are one of the best ways to prepare our young people for the workforce and beyond.”

Under the bill (A-3418), corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits would be granted to qualified enterprises for wages paid to qualified interns for the 2012 and 2013 tax years. A qualified intern would be any individual enrolled and in good standing at a New Jersey four-year institution of higher education, a New Jersey county college, or a New Jersey accredited post-secondary business, technical, trade or vocational school.

The credits are allowed in amounts equal to 40 percent of compensation paid to qualified interns or $600 of that compensation, whichever is less. Additional credits would be given to employers hiring three or more qualified interns.

The program will be limited to the first 5,250 qualified interns or 700 taxpayers. Employers will be required to pay interns no less than $8.00 per hour for a term of employment that lasted at least 12 weeks and included a minimum of 14 hours of service per week. All employers must certify that interns are working in New Jersey.

This program would be administered through the Division of Taxation and a report will conclude the effectiveness of the program following its termination. This bill is modeled after the recently enacted Philadelphia Internship Tax Credit program.

The bill has been referred to the Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee.