State Representative
Young Hoosiers can participate in a variety of paid internships, apprenticeship and work-based programs to jump start their careers. However, some may turn down those experiences because they could jeopardize their families’ ability to certain benefits.
Every Hoosier should be able to take advantage of opportunities to learn regardless of their families’ financial situation. That is why I am authoring a law that would exempt dependents’ income earned through these programs from their families’ eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
Exempting income earned through internships and work-based programs would help more people take advantage of opportunities and further develop Indiana’s workforce.
When applying for jobs, experience is one of the most valuable assets candidates can bring to the table. Participating in paid internships and work-based programs help students expand and diversify their skill set in order to make themselves more competitive among other applicants. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, experience was a strong factor in the class of 2019 job offer rates. The study also found two-thirds of paid interns received a job offer last year.
My proposed legislation comes at a time when Indiana needs to further develop and grow its workforce. With the state’s unemployment rate sitting below the national average at 3.2 percent, we have more jobs available than Hoosiers to fill them. While having the lowest unemployment rate in 20 years is wonderful news for the economy, job creators are finding themselves leaving positions open because they cannot find qualified workers to fill those roles. We must ensure Hoosiers have access to opportunities to get the skills they need to fill these crucial jobs across the state.
House Bill 1009 is a win-win for young Hoosiers and Indiana’s workforce as it breaks barriers for low-income families and supports a solid pipeline of skilled employees to keep the state’s economic momentum pushing forward.
State Rep. Chuck Goodrich (R-Noblesville) represents House District 29, which includes portions of Hamilton County.