Downloads
CS/HB 681 — Apprenticeship and Preapprenticeship Program Funding
by Careers and Workforce Subcommittee and Rep. Melo and others (CS/SB 1458 by Education Postsecondary Committee and Senator DiCeglie)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Education Postsecondary Committee (HE)
The bill modifies transparency, financial accountability, and governance requirements in the administration of registered apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs. It establishes new requirements for partnerships between local educational agencies (LEAs) and program providers, modifies reporting timelines and content, and expands public access to workforce education funding information. Specifically, the bill:
- Requires the Department of Education (DOE) uniform minimum standards and policies for apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs to allow partnerships between LEAs and program partners to ensure equitable and transparent funding arrangements.
- Requires partnership agreements between LEAs and apprenticeship or preapprenticeship providers to document each party’s responsibilities and define a funding split based on services provided. If the LEA’s role is administrative only, its funding share may not exceed 10 percent.
- Requires the DOE to develop a standard model contract template for LEA-program partnerships that addresses roles, funding terms, legal compliance, and reporting obligations.
- Modifies the required contents of the DOE’s annual apprenticeship and preapprenticeship report by expanding existing reporting elements related to local educational LEA expenditures. Specifically, the bill:
- Shifts the deadline for publication of the report from September 1 to November 30.
- Expands the expenditure summary to include both the LEA’s and the apprenticeship or preapprenticeship program’s responsibilities and costs.
- Adds to the requirement for reporting allocations by training provider, program, and occupation to also include the total funds “received.”
- Adds to the reporting of administrative costs a requirement to include the total number of personnel hours required to administer each apprenticeship and preapprenticeship program.
- Directs the DOE to develop and publish an online funding transparency tool by July 1, 2026. The tool must provide searchable historical funding data (by source, school district, or Florida College System institution) for the previous three fiscal years.
- Adds requirements for District Workforce Education Funding Steering Committee meetings, including public notice, opportunity for comment, publication of workpapers, and authorization for remote participation. It also moves the deadline for submitting the funding model to the Legislature from March 1 to at least two months before the start of the regular session.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor’s signature, these provisions take effect July 1, 2025.
Vote: Senate 37-0; House 117-0