New York Senate Bill 9998 was introduced, which would exclude unpaid student interns from workers’ comp coverage. The bill would not classify these workers are employed or engaged in employment.

The bill would define a student intern as an individual that is enrolled in an educational program at a public or non-public secondary school, charter school, or board of cooperative educational services that participates in unpaid internship, externship, or other similar program that is primarily for educational and/or training purposes.

The bill now sits with the Senate Labor Committee. If enacted, it would go into effect immediately.