(1)    The department shall establish a dietetic internship program with federal moneys from the special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children authorized under 42 U.S. Code § 1786. If the department determines that it may not implement or fund the program without a federal waiver, the department shall, no later than 6 months after March 26, 2016, request a waiver from the secretary of the federal department of agriculture. The department shall implement the program unless the federal department of agriculture disapproves the waiver request or the department is prohibited from using federal moneys to establish the program.

   (2)   Subject to sub. (8), the department, through the supplemental food program for women, infants, and children under s. 253.06, may sponsor the number of interns per year determined by the department, beginning with a first class of interns in September 2017.

   (3)   Unless the department grants an exception, in order to be eligible for the internship program under sub. (1), an applicant must, at the time of his or her selection, be employed as a nutritionist for the supplemental food program for women, infants, and children under s. 253.06 by either the department or a local agency and have met the educational requirements under s. 448.78 (3).

   (4)   The department or local agency shall continue to pay an employee who participates in the internship program his or her salary for noninternship-related work hours from the supplemental food program for women, infants, and children under s. 253.06 (2). The department or local agency may pay an employee who participates in the internship program his or her salary for internship-related work hours from the supplemental food program for women, infants, and children under s. 253.06 (2) as funded from the federal special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children authorized under 42 U.S. Code § 1786.

   (5)   The department shall issue to each individual who successfully completes the dietetic internship program under this section a certificate of completion that the individual may submit as verification of the completion of more than 900 hours of qualifying dietetics practice under s. 448.78 (4). The dietitians affiliated credentialing board shall accept certificates of completion issued under this subsection as satisfactory evidence under s. 448.78 (4).

   (6)   Each participant in the internship program shall agree to work at least 24 months for the department or a local agency as part of the supplemental food program for women, infants, and children under s. 253.06 upon successful completion of his or her internship. If the participant voluntarily terminates his or her employment with the supplemental food program for women, infants, and children before completing his or her obligated time under this subsection, or fails to take the dietetic registration examination within one year of internship completion, the participant must reimburse the department or a local agency for any incurred costs associated with his or her participation in the internship, including any income paid for internship-related work.

   (7)   

      (a)    The department may promulgate rules necessary for administration of this section.

      (b)    For the internship program under this section, the department shall promulgate rules to establish all of the following:

         1.    Training criteria and program completion standards consistent with the accreditation standards required by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.

         2.    Application procedures.

         3.    In addition to the requirement under sub. (3), criteria and requirements for intern selection.

         4.    Procedures for administration of the program by the supplemental food program for women, infants, and children.

   (8)   The department shall seek accreditation for the dietetic internship program under this section from the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. The department may not begin accepting applicants for the internship program unless the program is granted accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.