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A 3541

Relates to warranties and protections for purchasers of new and used motor vehicles

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Karl Brabenec and 6 co-sponsors

Establishes a paid New Jersey Legislature internship program to hire student interns, with NJ resident priority, eligibility limits, and funding/grant support from state funds.

REFERRED TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION
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Bill Summary · A 3541

Note on source materials: The bill information header lists a title about motor-vehicle warranties, but the full text and committee statements provided for A-3541 establish a legislative internship program. This summary reflects the actual bill text and committee reports (legislative internship program).

Summary — Assembly Bill A-3541 (1R)

Establishes a paid legislative internship program allowing members of the New Jersey Legislature to employ student interns, sets eligibility and program rules, and provides related funding and grant-application authority.

Purpose / Intent

To create a standardized, paid internship program that expands student access to legislative work, supports legislators’ staffing needs, and leverages state and federal funds (including WIOA On-the-Job Training programs) to finance internships.

Key provisions

  • Eligibility
    • Open to full- or part-time students enrolled in any accredited undergraduate or graduate program. Juris doctorate (JD) and PhD students are excluded.
    • Priority given to students who are New Jersey residents or who attend higher-education institutions located in New Jersey.
  • Employment and approval
    • Members of the Legislature may employ interns through the program, but must obtain approval from the presiding officer of their House before hiring.
  • Work periods and retention
    • Participants must complete one work period in a legislator’s district office; each legislator establishes the work period before hiring.
    • After completing the required work period, a legislator may retain the intern for an additional work period by mutual agreement.
  • Compensation
    • Under the introduced version: interns receive $1,000 per completed work period (prorated and paid bi‑weekly or monthly at the legislator’s option).
    • Members may receive up to $10,000 annually to employ interns (introduced text).
  • Funding and grants
    • Introduced text appropriated $1,200,000 from the State General Fund to the Legislature for the program.
    • Committee amendments changed the appropriation language to “‘such funds as are necessary’ from the State General Fund” (replacing the fixed $1.2M) and require the Legislature, with the Department of Labor & Workforce Development, to apply annually for any available federal grants or assistance (including WIOA On‑the‑Job Training funds).

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: eligible students (with New Jersey students prioritized).
  • Legislators/district offices: gain a regulated, state‑supported pathway to hire interns.
  • State budget and administrative agencies: potential fiscal impact and administrative duties for the Legislature and the Department of Labor & Workforce Development (grant applications, program oversight).

Procedural status & timeline

  • Introduced in the Assembly: February 5, 2024.
  • Reported out of Assembly committees with amendments: Sept. 19, 2024 (State & Local Government Committee) and Feb. 20, 2025 (Labor Committee).
  • Passed Assembly: March 24, 2025 (72–5–0).
  • Referred to the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee: May 12, 2025.
  • Additional referrals noted to Consumer Affairs & Protection (1/28/2025) in the legislative record.

Sponsors & related measures

  • Sponsors (per bill metadata): Jenifer Rajkumar (primary), with cosponsors Nader Sayegh, Joe DeStefano, Karl Brabenec, Albert A. Stirpe, Anna Kelles, Christopher Eachus.
  • Related/companion bills listed: prior-session bills and Senate companions including S-5597 and S-2133.

Potential impacts / considerations

  • Expands paid internship access, likely increasing socioeconomic diversity among legislative interns.
  • Creates ongoing state fiscal obligations (amount depends on final appropriation language and use of federal grants).
  • Requires administrative coordination between the Legislature and Department of Labor & Workforce Development for grant-seeking and program oversight.
  • Final program details (exact stipend amounts, total budget, and operational rules) could change in subsequent legislative or appropriation actions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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