Establishment of a student internship program for military child and youth programs

1103. Establishment of a student internship program for military child and youth programs Subchapter II of chapter 88 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1792 the following new section: 1792a. Internship program for military child and youth programs (a) Establishment Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027, the Secretary of Defense shall establish and carry out an internship program through which an individual described in subsection (b) may perform duties as an intern in a military child and youth program to prepare the individual for possible future employment in a military child and youth program. (b) Eligible individuals An individual eligible to be an intern participating in the internship program under this section is an individual who— (1) is a student in good standing at an institution of higher education; and (2) the Secretary determines— (A) to be qualified and talented; and (B) has passed appropriate screening and background checks. (c) Program requirements Requirements of the internship program shall include the following: (1) An intern may perform duties only in a military child development center under the supervision of a child care employee. (2) Pursuant to section 1588(a)(3)(B) of this title, a student intern shall perform their duties on a voluntary basis. (3) A student intern may not work more than eight hours a day or a total of 40 hours per week. (d) Authorization of certain expenses The Secretary may pay the following expenses incurred in the course of an intern’s participation in the internship program: (1) Lodging expenses. (2) Subsistence expenses. (3) Incidental expenses. (4) Transportation expenses for transportation between the residence of the intern and the military installation where the intern performs duties under the internship program. (e) Agreements The Secretary may enter into agreements with one or more institutions of higher education so an intern may receive appropriate levels credit towards a graduate or undergraduate degree for duties performed under the internship program. (f) Definition of institution of higher education In this section, the term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1002 ). .