§ 4-304

(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2) “Foster youth” means an individual who:

(i) is in out–of–home care under the responsibility of the State; or

(ii) 1. is an adult under the age of 26 years; and

2. was in out–of–home care under the responsibility of the State on the individual’s 18th birthday.

(3) “Program” means the Foster Youth Summer Internship Program established under this section.

(b) The Secretary shall:

(1) develop and implement a Foster Youth Summer Internship Program with the assistance of the Department of Budget and Management and in consultation with the local directors of local departments of social services; and

(2) coordinate with State agencies to establish internships in State agencies that are open to participants in the Program.

(c) The purpose of the Program is to provide foster youth with training and experience through internships in agencies within the Executive Branch of State government.

(d) The Program shall be established in multiple regions of the State.

(e) Internships under the Program may be paid or unpaid.

(f) A State agency participating in the Program may:

(1) specify requirements for internship applicants; and

(2) select its interns from among the available applicants.

(g) To be eligible to participate in an internship under the Program, an individual must be a foster youth at least 15 years old.

(h) On or before October 1, 2019, the Secretary, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, shall report to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, and the House Appropriations Committee of the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, on:

(1) the number of foster youth participating in the Program;

(2) the location and type of internships in the Program;

(3) efforts to recruit eligible individuals to participate in the Program; and

(4) factors that affect Program participation.