Section 1. Short Title
This Act may be cited as the Department of State Student Internship Program Improvements Act.
Section 2. Expanding opportunities for department-paid student internship program
Section 9201 of the Department of State Authorization Act of 2022 (22 U.S. 2737) is amended—
(1) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by inserting or have graduated from such an institution within the 6 months preceding application to the Program after paragraph (1);
(2) in subsection (c), by inserting and gives preference to individuals who have not previously completed internships within the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development after career in foreign affairs; and
(3) by adding at the end the following subsections:
(k) Work hours flexibility
Students participating in the Program may work fewer than 40 hours per week and a minimum of 24 hours per week to accommodate their academic schedules, provided that the total duration of the internship remains consistent with program requirements.
(l) Mentorship program
The Secretary and Administrator are authorized to establish a mentoring and coaching program that pairs Foreign Service or Civil Service employees with interns who choose to participate throughout the duration of their internship.