PILOT PROGRAM TO SECURE INTERNSHIPS FOR MILITARY SPOUSES WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES.

SEC. 564. PILOT PROGRAM TO SECURE INTERNSHIPS FOR MILITARY SPOUSES WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES.(a) Cost-reimbursement Agreements With Federal Agencies.—The Secretary of Defense may enter into an agreement with the head of an executive department or agency that has an established internship program to reimburse the department or agency for authorized costs associated with the first year of employment of an eligible military spouse who is selected to participate in the internship program of the department or agency.(b) Eligible Military Spouses.—(1) Eligibility.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), any person who is married to a member of the Armed Forces on active duty is eligible for selection to participate in an internship program under a reimbursement agreement entered into under subsection (a).(2) Exclusions.—Reimbursement may not be provided with respect to the following persons:(A) A person who is legally separated from a member of the Armed Forces under court order or statute of any State, the District of Columbia, or possession of the United States when the person begins the internship.(B) A person who is also a member of the Armed Forces on active duty.(C) A person who is a retired member of the Armed Forces.123 STAT. 2309(c) Funding Source.—Amounts authorized to be appropriated for operation and maintenance, for Defense-wide activities, shall be available to carry out this section.(d) Definitions.—In this section:(1) The term “authorized costs” includes the costs of the salary, benefits and allowances, and training for an eligible military spouse during the first year of the participation of the military spouse in an internship program pursuant to an agreement under subsection (a).(2) The term “internship” means a professional, analytical, or administrative position in the Federal Government that operates under a developmental program leading to career advancement.(e) Termination of Agreement Authority.—No agreement may be entered into under subsection (a) after September 30, 2011. Authorized costs incurred after that date may be reimbursed under an agreement entered into before that date in the case of eligible military spouses who begin their internship by that date.(f) Reporting Requirement.—Not later than January 1, 2012, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that provides information on how many eligible military spouses received internships pursuant to agreements entered into under subsection (a) and the types of internship positions they occupied. The report shall specify the number of interns who subsequently obtained permanent employment with the department or agency administering the internship program or with another department or agency. The Secretary shall include a recommendation regarding whether, given the investment of Department of Defense funds, the authority to enter into agreements should be extended, modified, or terminated.