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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7099
January Session, 2025
LCO No. 5500
Referred to Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION AND
EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT
Introduced by:
(HED)
AN ACT FUNDING JOURNALISM FELLOWSHIPS FOR GRADUATES
OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) As used in this section, 1
"local news organization" means a news organization, as defined in 2
section 54-33i of the general statutes, that is located in the state. 3
(b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and each fiscal year 4
thereafter, the Office of Higher Education shall establish a journalism 5
fellowship program to fund not fewer than twelve journalism 6
fellowships at one or more local news organizations. The office shall 7
specify the (1) minimum requirements for a fellowship funded under 8
such program, including, but not limited to, opportunities for (A) a 9
mentorship from experienced journalists and editors, (B) direct work 10
experience, and (C) professional networking, and (2) eligibility 11
requirements for individuals to qualify for such journalism fellowships, 12
including, but not limited to, (A) graduating from a journalism degree 13
program at a public institution of higher education in the state, and (B) 14 Raised Bill No. 7099
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interviewing with and being approved by the local news organization 15
providing such fellowship. Fellowships shall be funded in an amount 16
prescribed by the Commissioner of Higher Education. 17
(c) On or before September 1, 2025, the Office of Higher Education 18
shall post in a conspicuous location on its Internet web site (1) a 19
description of the journalism fellowship program, including, but not 20
limited to, the amount of funding available for each fellowship under 21
such program, (2) the minimum requirements and eligibility 22
requirements specified pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, (3) the 23
list of fellowships with funding available under such program, and (4) 24
the application form for such program. 25
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2025 New section
HED Joint Favorable C/R APP