The government on Wednesday filed an amendment to its own education bill that would extend to non-EU residents a 500-euro bonus for 18-year-olds to spend on culture.
The amendment would change last year's budget law. Currently the bonus covers Italian and EU citizens residing in Italy who turn 18 in 2016. The bonus would be extended to non-EU citizens who are legal residents, including children of non-EU parents who were born in Italy but still don't have citizenship.
The bonus comes in the form of a card with 500 euros to be spent on theater, film, books, museums, archeological sites, and nature reserves.
The education bill is currently on the Senate floor.
"This is good news for youth and for culture," said Democratic Party (PD) MP Umberto D'Ottavio, who sits on the parliamentary culture commission.
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