Louisiana business owners may soon have a tax incentive to hire high school interns, according to a proposed bill.
Louisiana proposes tax credit for hiring high school interns
House Bill 637, authored by Rep. Buddy Mincey, R-Denham Springs, would allow employers to receive a state tax credit of up to $2,500 if they hire public school interns aged 16 and over. The interns would be paid for a minimum number of hours, determined by the school, and the internships would include both classroom and hands-on training in high-demand industries that do not require a college education.
Mincey presented his proposal to the House Ways and Means Committee, citing the high truancy rates in the state. The interns would have to attend public schools, and Mincey hopes that this program would give them an incentive to stay in school and learn skills that could help them get jobs.
The cost of the tax credit is still unknown, and Mincey agreed to defer consideration of the bill until the legislative budget analysts calculate the cost
Some members of the House Appropriations Committee are concerned about the bill’s potential costs and are hesitant to pass it due to pressure to avoid exceeding a state spending cap.
Despite potential roadblocks, the bill has received support from educators and students. Jason St. Pierre, the principal of Walker High School, which offers banking and body-shop internships, said that traditional schools are “selling an education to students, and what we are selling, they are not buying.” Students, like Madison Eymard, a student government member at Walker High, expressed the desire to have more responsibilities and opportunities to work with adults.
The fate of the bill is uncertain, but Mincey’s proposal could potentially offer Louisiana businesses an incentive to invest in high school students’ education and job training.
READ ALSO: Tax Reduction Is Set For Amazon And Will Receive $1B For New Data Centers In Oregon
Leave a Reply