HR 9057

1	House Resolution
2	A resolution designating March 13, 2008, as
3	"Apprenticeship Day 2008" 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 60 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, according to the Florida Department of Education,
24	Florida's current registered apprenticeship program has 280
25	active apprenticeship programs throughout the state training
26	15,470 apprentices, with 157 programs in construction alone
27	training approximately 11,912 apprentices; Florida consistently
28	ranks in the top 10 percent nationally in the number of
29	apprentices served; and Florida's registered apprenticeship
30	system welcomes all apprentices 16 years of age or older without
31	regard to gender or ethnicity, and
32	WHEREAS, Florida's registered apprenticeship system
33	guarantees the availability of a quality workforce trained to
34	the exacting standards of the state's trades, while at the same
35	time improving the training standards of business and industry,
36	and it is on these strengths of a diversified workforce that
37	Florida's economy will flourish and maintain its competitive
38	edge nationally and internationally, and
39	WHEREAS, it is commonly known that the effectiveness and
40	uniqueness of Florida's registered apprenticeship program is in
41	part due to the unique cooperation and strong partnerships
42	forged among the business and industry sectors, the educational
43	community, apprenticeship program sponsors, and dedicated
44	students who are highly motivated to learn, and
45	WHEREAS, registered apprenticeship programs are an
46	essential part of our education system and such programs are a
47	critical component in the development and delivery of high-
48	caliber, skilled craftspeople needed to continue the growth that
49	has been Florida's hallmark, NOW, THEREFORE,
50
51	Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
52	Florida:
53
54	That March 13, 2008, is designated as "Apprenticeship Day
55	2008" in Florida.

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