HR 9019

1	House Resolution
2	A resolution designating March 10, 2005, as
3	"Apprenticeship Day 2005" in Florida.
4
5	WHEREAS, the apprenticeship method of on-the-job training
6	and related classroom instruction is found worldwide and has
7	consistently been proven to be an effective, efficient, and
8	economical way to pass on trade and craft skills and knowledge
9	needed by the builders of a nation's economy, and
10	WHEREAS, since being incorporated into state law 57 years
11	ago, Florida's apprenticeship program has taught tens of
12	thousands of students critical, industry-identified skills and
13	knowledge necessary for apprentices to take their place as
14	sought-after, skilled craftpersons, creating a diversification
15	that helps keep the state's economy growing by being built upon
16	enduring strengths, and
17	WHEREAS, it has been repeatedly demonstrated that
18	apprenticeship completers consistently earn higher salaries than
19	students earning college degrees through the baccalaureate
20	level, that apprentices are likely to remain in the high-skill,
21	high-wage fields in which they received their training, and that
22	they have extremely low rates of public assistance, and
23	WHEREAS, Florida's current registered apprenticeship
24	program has 293 active apprenticeship programs throughout the
25	state training 113,253 apprentices, with 163 programs in
26	construction alone training 10,242 apprentices; Florida
27	consistently ranks in the top 10 percent nationally in the
28	number of apprentices served; and Florida's registered
29	apprenticeship system welcomes all apprentices 16 years of age
30	or older without regard to gender or ethnicity, and
31	WHEREAS, Florida's registered apprenticeship system
32	guarantees the availability of a quality workforce trained to
33	the exacting standards of the state's trades, while at the same
34	time improving the training standards of business and industry,
35	and it is on these strengths of a diversified workforce that
36	Florida's economy will flourish and maintain its competitive
37	edge nationally and internationally, and
38	WHEREAS, it is commonly known that the effectiveness and
39	uniqueness of Florida's registered apprenticeship program is in
40	part due to the unique cooperation and strong partnerships
41	forged among the business and industry sectors, the educational
42	community, apprenticeship program sponsors, and dedicated
43	students who are highly motivated to learn, and
44	WHEREAS, registered apprenticeship programs are an
45	essential part of our education system and such programs are a
46	critical component in the development and delivery of high-
47	caliber, skilled craftspeople needed to continue the growth that
48	has been Florida's hallmark, NOW, THEREFORE,
49
50	Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
51	Florida:
52
53	That March 10, 2005, is designated as "Apprenticeship Day
54	2005" in Florida.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.