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This week, Chamber-backed PCB PEW1, sponsored by the House Postsecondary Education and Workforce Subcommittee and Representative Lauren Melo, moved through its first committee stop. This bill promotes career and technical education, with a focus on work-based learning, to address the growing workforce needs of our state.
With over 400,000 open jobs and only 271,000 Floridians looking for work, it is clear our state faces a workforce shortage. PEW1 addresses growing workforce demand through data-based decision-making and incentivizes supporting a stronger talent pipeline. The development of a robust talent pipeline is necessary for a competitive workforce, which is vital for Florida to fulfill its competitive potential as a top-10 global economy by 2030.
The Senate companion, SB 240 sponsored by Senator Travis Hutson, has already had its first committee hearing and gained unanimous support in the Senate Education Prek-12 Committee.
Similarities of PEW1 and SB 240 include:
Unique to SB 240
SB 240 provides $100 million for the Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant Program for schools to fund the creation or expansion of career and technical education programs.
SB 240 appropriates $2 million for the 23-24 Fiscal Year to the Department of Financial Services to manage and reimburse workers compensation costs to businesses with students participating in work-based learning opportunities in the previous state fiscal year.
Unique to PEW1
PEW1 expands apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs through coordination among agencies and workforce organizations. The House bill states that the Reimaging Education and Career Help (REACH) Office will coordinate with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Department of Education, and CareerSource to develop and expand pre-apprenticeship programs. Additionally, this bill states that they will streamline efforts to recruit and onboard new apprentices, pre-apprentices, students, and employers interested in work-based learning opportunities. Coordination will include local governments, business leaders, and educational providers.
PEW1 expands eligibility for the Experiential Learning Tax Credit program to include apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships. Under this tax credit, qualified businesses may claim a tax credit of no more than $10,000 in one year for employment of individuals previously hired as apprentices and pre-apprentices.
Join the Conversation
In order to compete on a global stage, Florida’s economy must continue its forward momentum, not only to create 1.62 million net new jobs by 2030 but ensure its current and future talent is prepared to fill those positions.
Join the Florida Chamber Foundation for the 2023 Florida Learners to Earners Workforce Solution Summit, June 27, 2023 in Tampa to engage with Florida’s business leaders, education and workforce advocates, and elected officials as they discuss the importance of investing in early learning and closing the skills gaps in the current and future workforce