NE3: Graduate Protection Act (Passed)

[Blair]

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Sponsor: Blair, I have 36 hours to begin to advocate this bill

[Blair]

Even though similar legislation is being proposed in the Senate, this legislation was proposed by me a while back and I feel it's a good thing to have in the Northeast, as TNF's amendment could fail and Bore's bill may not get voted through. For that reason I will continue to advocate for this bill to be passed through the senate.

The scholarship scheme is also of vital importance, along with ensuring that all have an equal chance in entering the workplace-I feel this bill simply gives everybody equal footing. If anybody has concerns about interships I will be happy to expand on why unpaid internships are awful and should be banned. The scholarships aim to get highly skilled young people into public service, and to promote a better civic society in turn. I believe this bill will make public service honorable again.

The Green Graduate scheme also helps the NE expand in the future, as the green sector or Quaternary sector is of growing importance, and I want the NE to be a hub for this which will provide jobs and investment for all. The public-private partnership is also vital to ensure that funding isn't a major issue

[Blair]

In principle, I support this proposed legislation.

However, students should understand that if they are to be paid for internships, that their wage or salary will be at the entry level for that particular position.

This bill also discusses scholarships.  In my view, the part of the bill discussing scholarships should be separated from the part of the bill that discusses internships.  I believe that both parts of this bill will have more clarity if they are separated.

Also, the bill designates two fields in which scholarships would be established, public service and the environment.  While these are both noble endeavors, there are as well many other fields of study that would warrant scholarships to assist students.  I'm thinking of careers in the field of medical research for example.

Yeah students should accept that it will be an entry level job, I'm fine with the basis of them working there way up, as others have said in the Senate bill the idea is just to give interns the same rights as all workers.

I'd be open to splitting the bill through an amendment, but we differ on scholarships. As I understand tuition is free to all NE residents right?

For this reason I want scholarships to be used to encourage unsubscribed services such as the Green Energy Sector, and public service. Basically saying to people we want more people to get involved, and we know it's tough so here's some support. I'm not convinced that medical students need this support, and if they did get it I'd want it to be tied to certain conditions (serving in urban ER, community outreach, public health risks)

[Blair]

Yeah, I'd like to see the cost of the scholarships before going through with it.

That's true.  We do not have unlimited funds to spend on scholarships.

We open up public service and environmental studies scholarships, where does it stop?

I'm fine with the internship part of the bill, but I have some questions on the scholarship part. At least for government jobs in public service, such as teaching, it might be simpler to increase pay scales or something like that. Regardless, I do support the bill in principle, as long as the cost isn't outrageously high.

The whole point of a scholarship is to help pay the start up costs, because the hardest thing about starting a job is paying for rent, training, living costs etc. Increasing pay won't make a difference because that's long term financing. I should of been clearer in public service jobs because I didn't mean teaching-I wanted government service jobs to be encouraged

I don't understand your opposition Winfield? You were the one who wanted to expand the scheme, and now you're saying that it's a 'black hole'. It's not going to open up to every area if we legislate it correctly-hence why I only put two areas of debate in there. I provided a private-public scheme to try, and bridge the gap. As I said before I also want the internships to act as a boost for the economy, especially in the green energy sector where the Northeast can become a powerhouse which will create jobs and investment

there are as well many other fields of study that would warrant scholarships to assist students.  I'm thinking of careers in the field of medical research for example.

But for the purpose of passing the bill, and for clarity. I offer this amendment

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[Blair]

I think Section 3 could work as a separate bill. I feel that we can discuss which sectors should be offered grants and the size of the grants more easily this way.

While I remember, do we need to decide a budget during this term? This could help decide how we can fund this or any future bill.

I'll PM Governor Sawx to discuss this. I understand Winfield's concern with the scholarship and will draft a bill that has wide approval.

[Blair]

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I put forward the above amendment (in blue) to the Graduate Protection Act for consideration.

Mr. Speaker, since you are the author of this bill, does this proposed amendment meet with your approval? 

Amendment is unclear, I want it to specify that interns get the minimum wage

[Blair]

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I put forward the above amendment (in blue) to the Graduate Protection Act for consideration.

Mr. Speaker, since you are the author of this bill, does this proposed amendment meet with your approval? 

Amendment is unclear, I want it to specify that interns get the minimum wage

Does this look better?

Amendment is friendly

[Blair]

Voting is now open on this bill, all members have 48 hours to vote Aye, Nay or Abstain

This is the final bill

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[Blair]

Aye

[Blair]

With 3-0, and 2 abstentions I declare that this law has passed, and will now be sent to the Governor to sign

[Blair]

After the first bill was vetoed, this is the re-drafted bill that I want to send to the Governor. Does everyone approve of it?

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[Blair]

I'm going to open the vote on this tomorrow morning as I want to send it back to the Governors mansion quickly so we can focus on other legislation

[Blair]

Yes.  Fine with me.

I should have thought of that when I presented the original amendment.

However, if employers are mandated to pay at the least the minimum wage, I do not imagine that many employers will be paying anything above the minimum wage  at least to start.

The majority of political/media groups pay the living wage over here, but that's for political reasons rather than anything else. It also depends on the minimum wage because it seems to change everyday here

[Blair]

Opening up the vote on the revised bill. All members have 48 hours to vote. Please vote Aye,Nay or Abstain

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[Blair]

Aye

[Blair]

By 5-0 the new bill has passed, and will be sent to the Governor