| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to the Florida Ready to Work Certification |
| 3 | Program; creating s. 1004.99, F.S.; creating the program |
| 4 | to enhance student workplace skills; providing for |
| 5 | implementation; providing program components; authorizing |
| 6 | rulemaking; providing an effective date. |
| 7 |
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| 8 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 9 |
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| 10 | Section 1. Section 1004.99, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 11 | to read: |
| 12 | 1004.99 Florida Ready to Work Certification Program.-- |
| 13 | (1) There is created the Florida Ready to Work |
| 14 | Certification Program to enhance the workplace skills of |
| 15 | Florida's students to better prepare them for successful entry- |
| 16 | level employment in specific occupations. |
| 17 | (2) The Florida Ready to Work Certification Program may be |
| 18 | conducted in public high schools, community colleges, technical |
| 19 | centers, one-stop career centers, vocational rehabilitation |
| 20 | centers, and Department of Juvenile Justice educational |
| 21 | facilities. The Department of Education shall establish |
| 22 | institutional readiness criteria for program implementation. |
| 23 | (3) The Florida Ready to Work Certification Program shall |
| 24 | be composed of: |
| 25 | (a) A comprehensive identification of workplace skills for |
| 26 | each occupation identified for inclusion in the program by the |
| 27 | Agency for Workforce Innovation. |
| 28 | (b) A preinstructional assessment that delineates the |
| 29 | student's mastery level on the specific workplace skills |
| 30 | identified for that occupation. |
| 31 | (c) A targeted instructional program limited to those |
| 32 | identified workplace skills in which the student is not |
| 33 | proficient as measured by the preinstructional assessment. |
| 34 | Instruction must utilize a web-based program and be customized |
| 35 | to meet identified specific needs of local employers. |
| 36 | (d) A certificate and portfolio awarded to students upon |
| 37 | successful completion of the instruction. Each portfolio must |
| 38 | delineate the skills demonstrated by the student as evidence of |
| 39 | the student's preparation for employment. |
| 40 | (4) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the |
| 41 | Agency for Workforce Innovation, may adopt rules pursuant to ss. |
| 42 | 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of this |
| 43 | section. |
| 44 | Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. |