Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1458
By Senator DiCeglie
18-00590A-25 20251458__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to apprenticeship and
3 preapprenticeship program funding; creating s.
4 446.033, F.S.; providing legislative intent; defining
5 terms; creating a funding formula for registered
6 apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs;
7 providing requirements for such formula; providing for
8 the annual adjustment of funding rates; providing for
9 additional funding to programs under certain
10 circumstances; providing methods for the distribution
11 of funding to such programs; providing program and
12 sponsor requirements for specified distribution
13 methods; providing program and Department of Education
14 responsibilities and duties; providing for the
15 implementation of the funding formula; requiring the
16 State Board of Education to adopt certain rules;
17 amending s. 1003.493, F.S.; providing requirements for
18 the distribution of funding for certain apprenticeship
19 programs; providing local educational agency and
20 department requirements relating to such funding;
21 providing reporting requirements; providing an
22 effective date.
23
24 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
25
26 Section 1. Section 446.033, Florida Statutes, is created to
27 read:
28 446.033 Funding for registered apprenticeship and
29 preapprenticeship programs.—
30 (1) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.—It is the intent of the Legislature
31 to create a transparent and equitable funding framework for
32 registered apprenticeship programs, registered preapprenticeship
33 programs, career and technical education, and workforce
34 development to support the seamless collaboration among all
35 participants, including, but not limited to, trainees,
36 employers, local educational agencies, educational institutions
37 and programs, associations, related technical instruction
38 providers, sponsors, and other qualifying entities. It is also
39 the intent of the Legislature to simplify funding distribution,
40 enhance program access, and enable flexible program growth to
41 meet this state’s workforce demands and empower residents of
42 this state to pursue high-wage careers and contribute to this
43 state’s economic vitality.
44 (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
45 (a) “Career and technical education” means educational
46 programs focused on equipping students with the technical,
47 academic, and employability skills necessary for specific
48 occupations in high-demand fields.
49 (b) “Local educational agency” means a public board of
50 education or any other public authority within this state
51 responsible for the administrative control of public elementary
52 or secondary schools.
53 (c) “On-the-job training” means practical training
54 conducted at the workplace during which apprentices acquire
55 hands-on experience under the supervision of qualified
56 journeyworkers, focusing on developing skills required in a
57 specific occupation.
58 (d) “Program” means a registered apprenticeship program or
59 a registered preapprenticeship program.
60 (e) “Registered apprentice” means a student who is at least
61 16 years of age and engaged in a registered apprenticeship
62 program that provides on-the-job training under the supervision
63 of a qualified journeyworker and related technical instruction
64 to develop skills in a specific occupation.
65 (f) “Registered apprenticeship program” means an organized
66 instructional program approved by and registered with the
67 Department of Education which includes terms and conditions for
68 recruiting, training, and employing registered apprentices in a
69 specific occupation.
70 (g) “Registered preapprentice” means a student who is at
71 least 16 years of age and enrolled in a registered
72 preapprenticeship program that provides foundational skills and
73 prepares the student for entry into a registered apprenticeship
74 program.
75 (h) “Registered preapprenticeship program” means an
76 organized instructional program approved by and registered with
77 the Department of Education which provides preparatory training
78 for students to become registered apprentices, including general
79 education courses and skills-based training.
80 (i) “Related technical instruction” means a structured
81 educational component of a program that provides theoretical
82 knowledge and technical skills relevant to a specific
83 occupation, complementing the practical training received
84 through on-the-job training.
85 (j) “Sponsor” means an entity such as an employer, an
86 educational institution, an association, or any other qualifying
87 entity responsible for administration and operation of a
88 registered apprenticeship program or a registered
89 preapprenticeship program, including ensuring the program’s
90 compliance with state-approved program standards.
91 (k) “Student” means any person enrolled in a registered
92 apprenticeship program or a registered preapprenticeship
93 program.
94 (3) FUNDING FORMULA.—Each program shall receive funding
95 allocations based on each student enrolled in a program
96 consistent with the funding allocations outlined in the
97 department’s district workforce education funding summary, which
98 is calculated based on the hours of education and a weighted FTE
99 that recognizes both the related technical instruction hours and
100 the on-the-job training hours as follows:
101 (a) For purposes of this section, 1 FTE is 900
102 instructional hours. The amount of funding allocated for an FTE
103 shall be established annually by the department.
104 (b) Each student in a registered apprenticeship program
105 shall receive weighted funding at a rate of 0.25 for each hour
106 of on-job-training, up to 2,000 hours per program year.
107 (c) Each student in a registered apprenticeship program
108 shall receive weighted funding at a rate between 1.5 and 2.5 for
109 each hour of related technical instruction. Such weighted
110 funding shall vary by occupation and skill level and must align
111 with the department’s standards in the district workforce
112 education funding summary.
113 (d) Each student in a registered preapprenticeship program
114 shall receive weighted funding at a rate of 1.5 for:
115 1. If the student is a high school student, each hour of
116 related technical instruction, up to 380 hours of instruction
117 annually.
118 2. If the student is an adult student, each hour of related
119 technical instruction, up to 900 hours of instruction annually.
120 (4) FTE CALCULATION AND DISTRIBUTION.—For a registered
121 apprentice or a registered preapprentice, his or her funding
122 shall be calculated as follows: The student’s calculated FTE,
123 plus the weighted on-the-job training funding, plus the weighted
124 related technical instruction funding.
125 (5) ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT OF FUNDING RATES.—The department
126 shall annually review and adjust the funding rate based on the
127 consumer price index or a similar economic indicator to ensure
128 the sustainability of program costs.
129 (6) ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR HIGH-DEMAND OCCUPATIONS.
130 Programs serving high-demand occupations identified by this
131 state may receive additional incentives through performance
132 based adjustments to ensure program alignment with this state’s
133 economic needs.
134 (7) DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDING.—
135 (a) Each program shall choose one of the following as a
136 method of receiving funding pursuant to this section:
137 1. The program may partner with a local educational agency
138 and determine an equitable split of funding. The local
139 educational agency shall ensure that all parties understand the
140 total amount of funding and allocations. The terms of a
141 partnership between a program and a local educational agency
142 must be documented in an agreement or a contract. A local
143 educational agency may not impose additional fees or withhold
144 additional funds beyond the agreed upon amount in such agreement
145 or contract unless explicitly outlined to ensure financial
146 clarity and prevent unexpected costs for program sponsors; or
147 2. The program may receive such funding directly from the
148 department to allow flexibility for diverse administrative needs
149 and to ensure that the program retains control over operations
150 while adhering to state standards. To be eligible to receive
151 such funding directly from the department, the sponsor,
152 including any educational institution, committee, individual or
153 group of employers, local workforce board, community-based or
154 faith-based organization, or association, or any combination
155 thereof, must have:
156 a. State-approved program standards.
157 b. A letter of commitment from the participating employers
158 or the sponsoring registered apprenticeship program.
159 c. Evidence that the sponsor qualifies to receive such
160 funding.
161 d. Evidence that the related technical instruction is being
162 delivered in an appropriate manner consistent with state
163 approved program standards.
164
165 A program may use both methods of funding, but may only submit a
166 registered apprentice or registered preapprentice for one method
167 of funding per year.
168 (b) Student enrollment must be reported to the department
169 by the second week of classes. The department shall remit
170 payment within 30 days after verifying that the program is
171 enrolled in the Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information
172 Database System and that enrollment in the program is accurate.
173 (8) PROGRAM DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.—Each program:
174 (a) May establish reasonable enrollment limits based on
175 factors that include, but are not limited to, all of the
176 following:
177 1. Facility availability.
178 2. Instructor capacity.
179 3. Industry-specific training requirements.
180
181 Clear communication of such enrollment limits is required to
182 align participant expectations with program resources and for
183 continued eligibility for funding.
184 (b) Must, if such program is funded pursuant to
185 subparagraph (7)(a)2., submit an annual report to the
186 department. The report must include all of the following:
187 1. Enrollment data.
188 2. Yearly completion rates.
189 3. Significant outcomes.
190 4. How funds were used to support instruction, procure
191 materials, and support operations.
192 (c) Is encouraged to expand into nontraditional industry
193 sectors, including, but not limited to, health care, information
194 technology, advanced manufacturing, and other emerging fields.
195 (9) DEPARTMENT DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.—The department:
196 (a) Shall create a standard model contract and agreement to
197 be used pursuant to this section.
198 (b) May issue voluntary guidelines to encourage programs to
199 expand capacity, particularly in high-demand occupations,
200 without mandating specific growth targets. Such guidance must
201 support sustainable growth to meet workforce demands while
202 preserving program autonomy.
203 (c) Shall support programs expanding into nontraditional
204 industry sectors, including, but not limited to, health care,
205 information technology, advanced manufacturing, and other
206 emerging fields.
207 (d) Must collaborate with workforce development partners,
208 including CareerSource Florida, Inc., to align programs with
209 broader economic and labor goals.
210 (e) Must ensure streamlined reporting requirements and
211 minimal administrative burdens.
212 (10) IMPLEMENTATION.—The funding formula established in
213 this section shall be used for programs beginning in the 2026
214 2027 fiscal year.
215 (11) RULEMAKING.—The State Board of Education shall adopt
216 rules to implement the funding formula established in this
217 section, which includes eligibility criteria, performance
218 metrics, and funding guidelines.
219 Section 2. Subsection (7) is added to section 1003.493,
220 Florida Statutes, to read:
221 1003.493 Career and professional academies and career
222 themed courses.—
223 (7)(a) Any local educational agency that partners with a
224 private provider to provide apprenticeship or preapprenticeship
225 programs shall administer any relevant funding as follows:
226 1. If the local educational agency provides pass-through
227 services only, the funding levels must be provided as follows:
228 a. The entity that provides the related technical
229 instruction must receive 50 percent of the funding.
230 b. The entity that provides the technical, on-the-job
231 training must receive 40 percent of the funding.
232 c. The local educational agency that provides only the
233 pass-through services must receive 10 percent of the funding.
234 2. If the local educational agency provides pass-through
235 services and administrative support, the funding levels must be
236 provided as follows, as determined by the Department of
237 Education pursuant to paragraph (b):
238 a. The entity that provides the related technical
239 instruction must receive between 45 and 50 percent of the
240 funding.
241 b. The entity that provides the technical, on-the-job
242 training must receive between 35 and 40 percent of the funding.
243 c. The local educational agency that provides the pass
244 through services and administrative support must receive between
245 10 and 20 percent of the funding.
246 (b) To receive the amount of funding specified in
247 subparagraph (a)2., a local educational agency must provide
248 documentation to the department on the amount of services
249 provided for apprenticeship or preapprenticeship programs. Based
250 on such documentation, the department shall establish
251 percentages of funding required under subparagraph (a)2. Any
252 funding percentages that remain from the local educational
253 agency must be equally split between the entity providing
254 related technical instruction and the entity providing
255 technical, on-the-job training.
256 (c) Each local educational agency must submit a report to
257 the department each year by June 1 and December 1 detailing the
258 responsibility between the local educational agency and the
259 private provider with which it partners for apprenticeship or
260 preapprenticeship programs. The report must contain the amount
261 it costs to support the programs, the total number of personnel
262 hours required to administer the programs, the total number of
263 students who are provided program opportunities by the local
264 educational agency, and any other relevant documentation.
265 (d) The department shall submit a report annually,
266 beginning August 1, 2026, to the Governor, the President of the
267 Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
268 detailing the total amount of funding each local educational
269 agency receives to provide pass-through services for
270 apprenticeship or preapprenticeship programs, the total amount
271 of funding each local educational agency receives to provide
272 both pass-through services and administrative support, the total
273 number of hours each local educational agency used to administer
274 the apprenticeship or preapprenticeship programs, the total
275 number of students participating in apprenticeship or
276 preapprenticeship programs statewide, and the total number of
277 private providers currently working with each local educational
278 agency.
279 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.