House Bill hb0135e1
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CS/HB 135, First Engrossed/ntc
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to Workforce Florida, Inc.;
3 amending s. 445.004, F.S.; expanding the
4 utilization of faith-based and community-based
5 organizations; requiring certain funds to be
6 expended for after-school care programs;
7 providing an effective date.
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9 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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11 Section 1. Subsections (6) and (10) of section
12 445.004, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
13 445.004 Workforce Florida, Inc.; creation; purpose;
14 membership; duties and powers.--
15 (6) Workforce Florida, Inc., may take action that it
16 deems necessary to achieve the purposes of this section,
17 including, but not limited to:
18 (a) Creating a state employment, education, and
19 training policy that ensures that programs to prepare workers
20 are responsive to present and future business and industry
21 needs and complement the initiatives of Enterprise Florida,
22 Inc.
23 (b) Establishing policy direction for a funding system
24 that provides incentives to improve the outcomes of vocational
25 education programs, and of registered apprenticeship and
26 work-based learning programs, and that focuses resources on
27 occupations related to new or emerging industries that add
28 greatly to the value of the state's economy.
29 (c) Establishing a comprehensive policy related to the
30 education and training of target populations such as those who
31 have disabilities, are economically disadvantaged, receive
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CS/HB 135, First Engrossed/ntc
1 public assistance, are not proficient in English, or are
2 dislocated workers. This approach should ensure the effective
3 use of federal, state, local, and private resources in
4 reducing the need for public assistance.
5 (d) Designating Institutes of Applied Technology
6 composed of public and private postsecondary institutions
7 working together with business and industry to ensure that
8 technical and vocational education programs use the most
9 advanced technology and instructional methods available and
10 respond to the changing needs of business and industry.
11 (e) Providing policy direction for a system to project
12 and evaluate labor market supply and demand using the results
13 of the Workforce Estimating Conference created in s. 216.136
14 and the career education performance standards identified
15 under s. 239.233.
16 (f) Reviewing the performance of public programs that
17 are responsible for economic development, education,
18 employment, and training. The review must include an analysis
19 of the return on investment of these programs.
20 (g) Expanding the occupations identified by the
21 Workforce Estimating Conference to meet needs created by local
22 emergencies or plant closings or to capture occupations within
23 emerging industries.
24 (h) Expanding the utilization of faith-based and
25 community-based organizations to work collaboratively in the
26 delivery of services to Florida's citizens.
27 (10) The workforce development strategy for the state
28 shall be designed by Workforce Florida, Inc., and shall be
29 centered around the strategies of First Jobs/First Wages,
30 Better Jobs/Better Wages, and High Skills/High Wages.
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CS/HB 135, First Engrossed/ntc
1 (a) First Jobs/First Wages is the state's strategy to
2 promote successful entry into the workforce through education
3 and workplace experience that lead to self-sufficiency and
4 career advancement. The components of the strategy include
5 efforts that enlist business, education, and community support
6 for students to achieve long-term career goals, ensuring that
7 young people have the academic and occupational skills
8 required to succeed in the workplace. A minimum of 15 percent
9 of all Workforce Investment Act youth services funds shall be
10 expended for after-school care programs, through contracts
11 with qualified faith-based and community-based organizations,
12 on an equal basis with other private organizations, to provide
13 after-school care programs to eligible children 14 through 18
14 years of age. Such programs shall include academic tutoring,
15 mentoring, and other appropriate services. Similar services
16 may be provided for eligible children 6 through 13 years of
17 age using Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds.
18 (b) Better Jobs/Better Wages is the state's strategy
19 for assisting employers in upgrading or updating the skills of
20 their employees and for assisting incumbent workers in
21 improving their performance in their current jobs or acquiring
22 the education or training needed to secure a better job with
23 better wages.
24 (c) High Skills/High Wages is the state's strategy for
25 aligning education and training programs with high-paying,
26 high-demand occupations that advance individuals' careers,
27 build a more skilled workforce, and enhance Florida's efforts
28 to attract and expand job-creating businesses.
29 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2001.
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