§ 2279c. — Student internship programs.
[Laws in effect as of January 7, 2003]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 7, 2003 and December 19, 2003]
[CITE: 7USC2279c]
TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
CHAPTER 55--DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Sec. 2279c. Student internship programs
(a) Student intern subsistence program
(1) ``Student intern'' defined
In this subsection, the term ``student intern'' means a person
who--
(A) is employed by the Department of Agriculture (referred
to in this section as the ``Department'') to assist scientific,
professional, administrative, or technical employees of the
Department; and
(B) is a student in good standing at an institution of
higher education (as defined in section 1001 of title 20)
pursuing a course of study related to the field in which the
person is employed by the Department.
(2) Payment of certain expenses by the Secretary
The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section as the
``Secretary'') may, out of user fee funds or funds appropriated to
any agency of the Department, pay for lodging expenses, subsistence
expenses, and transportation expenses of a student intern at the
agency (including expenses of transportation to and from the student
intern's residence at or near the institution of higher education
attended by the student intern and the official duty station at
which the student intern is employed).
(b) Cooperation with associations of colleges and universities
(1) Authority to cooperate
Notwithstanding chapter 63 of title 31, the Secretary may enter
into cooperative agreements on an annual basis with 1 or more
associations of institutions of higher education (as defined in
section 1001 of title 20) for the purpose of providing for
Department participation in internship programs for graduate and
undergraduate students who are selected by the associations from
students attending member institutions of the associations and other
institutions of higher education.
(2) Internship program
An internship program supported under this subsection (referred
to in this subsection as an ``internship program'') shall provide
work assignments for students within the Department and such other
activities as the association that enters into the cooperative
agreement under paragraph (1) with respect to the internship program
(referred to in this subsection as the ``cooperating association'')
and the Secretary shall determine. The nature of Department
participation in an internship program shall be developed jointly by
the Secretary and the cooperating association.
(3) Program coordination
The cooperating association shall coordinate an internship
program, including--
(A) the recruitment of students;
(B) arrangements for travel of the students to Washington,
District of Columbia, and to agency field locations;
(C) the provision of housing for students, if required; and
(D) all activities for the students that take place outside
the Department work assignments of the students.
(4) Number and selection of students
(A) Number
A cooperative agreement entered into under paragraph (1)
shall specify the number of students that the Department will
host each year and a list of work assignments to be provided for
the students.
(B) Selection
The cooperating association shall provide the Department
with a pool of student candidates meeting the requirements for
each work assignment identified by the Secretary. Final
selection of the students for Department internship positions
shall be made by the Secretary.
(5) Cost reimbursement
From such amounts as the Secretary determines are available each
fiscal year for internship programs, and subject to such regulations
as the Secretary may issue, the Secretary may reimburse a
cooperating association for the Department share of all direct and
indirect costs of an internship program, including student stipends,
transportation costs to the internship site, and other costs of an
internship program.
(6) Lead agency
The Secretary may designate a lead agency within the Department
to carry out this subsection.
(7) Interagency agreements
Agencies and offices within the Department other than the lead
agency--
(A) may enter into interagency agreements with the lead
agency to provide work assignments for students participating in
an internship program; and
(B) shall reimburse the lead agency for the direct and
indirect costs of each student assigned to the agency under an
internship program.
(8) Federal employee status
A student who participates in an internship program shall not be
considered a Federal employee, except for purposes of chapter 81 of
title 5, and chapter 171 of title 28.
(Pub. L. 104-127, title IX, Sec. 922, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1193; Pub.
L. 105-244, title I, Sec. 102(a)(1)(A), Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1617.)
Amendments
1998--Subsecs. (a)(1)(B), (b)(1). Pub. L. 105-244 substituted
``section 1001 of title 20)'' for ``section 1141 of title 20)''.
Effective Date of 1998 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 105-244 effective Oct. 1, 1998, except as
otherwise provided in Pub. L. 105-244, see section 3 of Pub. L. 105-244,
set out as a note under section 1001 of Title 20, Education.
