Florida Senate - 2021                                     SB 790
       
       
        
       By Senator Taddeo
       
       
       
       
       
       40-00185-21                                            2021790__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to legislative interns; creating s.
    3         11.251, F.S.; providing legislative intent; requiring
    4         the presiding officers of the Legislature to establish
    5         an individual housing stipend for certain legislative
    6         interns for each regular legislative session;
    7         providing for applicability; providing an effective
    8         date.
    9          
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Section 11.251, Florida Statutes, is created to
   13  read:
   14         11.251 Legislative interns; housing stipend.—
   15         (1) In order to allow individuals from throughout the state
   16  an equal ability and opportunity to be involved with, and
   17  participate in, the legislative process, it is the intent of the
   18  Legislature that legislative interns receive a housing stipend
   19  in order to defray housing costs while relocating to Tallahassee
   20  for the legislative session.
   21         (2) For each regular legislative session, the President of
   22  the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall
   23  establish a rate for an individual housing stipend for
   24  legislative interns who relocate to Tallahassee to attend the
   25  session.
   26         (3) This section does not apply to:
   27         (a) Individuals who reside in Tallahassee or within 50
   28  miles of Tallahassee.
   29         (b) Individuals who participate in a legislative internship
   30  program offered through an institution of higher learning which
   31  includes the payment of a stipend or other compensation provided
   32  for the purpose of defraying housing costs.
   33         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.