SB 1458 — Apprenticeship and Preapprenticeship Program Funding

(a) “Career and technical education” means educational programs focused on equipping students with the technical, academic, and employability skills necessary for specific occupations in high-demand fields.

(b) “Local educational agency” means a public board of education or any other public authority within this state responsible for the administrative control of public elementary or secondary schools.

(c) “On-the-job training” means practical training conducted at the workplace during which apprentices acquire hands-on experience under the supervision of qualified journeyworkers, focusing on developing skills required in a specific occupation.

(d) “Program” means a registered apprenticeship program or Page 2 of 10 CODING:

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1458 18-00590A-25 20251458__ a registered preapprenticeship program.

(e) “Registered apprentice” means a student who is at least 16 years of age and engaged in a registered apprenticeship program that provides on-the-job training under the supervision of a qualified journeyworker and related technical instruction to develop skills in a specific occupation.

(f) “Registered apprenticeship program” means an organized instructional program approved by and registered with the Department of Education which includes terms and conditions for recruiting, training, and employing registered apprentices in a specific occupation.

(g) “Registered preapprentice” means a student who is at least 16 years of age and enrolled in a registered preapprenticeship program that provides foundational skills and prepares the student for entry into a registered apprenticeship program.

(h) “Registered preapprenticeship program” means an organized instructional program approved by and registered with the Department of Education which provides preparatory training for students to become registered apprentices, including general education courses and skills-based training.

(i) “Related technical instruction” means a structured educational component of a program that provides theoretical knowledge and technical skills relevant to a specific occupation, complementing the practical training received through on-the-job training.

(j) “Sponsor” means an entity such as an employer, an educational institution, an association, or any other qualifying entity responsible for administration and operation of a Page 3 of 10 CODING:

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1458 18-00590A-25 20251458__ registered apprenticeship program or a registered preapprenticeship program, including ensuring the program’s compliance with state-approved program standards.

(k) “Student” means any person enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program or a registered preapprenticeship program.

(3) FUNDING FORMULA.—Each program shall receive funding allocations based on each student enrolled in a program consistent with the funding allocations outlined in the department’s district workforce education funding summary, which is calculated based on the hours of education and a weighted FTE that recognizes both the related technical instruction hours and the on-the-job training hours as follows:

(a) For purposes of this section, 1 FTE is 900 instructional hours.

The amount of funding allocated for an FTE shall be established annually by the department.

(b) Each student in a registered apprenticeship program shall receive weighted funding at a rate of 0.25 for each hour of on-job-training, up to 2,000 hours per program year.

(c) Each student in a registered apprenticeship program shall receive weighted funding at a rate between 1.5 and 2.5 for each hour of related technical instruction.

Such weighted funding shall vary by occupation and skill level and must align with the department’s standards in the district workforce education funding summary.

(d) Each student in a registered preapprenticeship program shall receive weighted funding at a rate of 1.5 for:

IfShall govern the studentterms isand aconditions highof schoolthe student,apprentice’s eachemployment hourand training, including the quality training of relatedthe technicalapprentice instruction,for, upbut tonot 380limited hoursto, ofsuch instructionmatters Pageas 4ratios of 10apprentices CODING:to journeyworkers, safety, related instruction, and on-the-job training;

Wordsbut strickenthese arestandards deletions;and policies may not include rules, standards, or guidelines that require the use of apprentices and job trainees on state, county, or municipal contracts.

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1458 18-00590A-25 20251458__ annually.

IfMust theallow studentan isapprenticeship anor adultpreapprenticeship student,program eachto hourpartner ofwith relateda technicallocal instruction,educational upagency toand 900determine hoursan equitable split of instructionapprenticeship annually.funding.

(4)The FTElocal CALCULATIONeducational ANDagency DISTRIBUTION.—Formust aensure registeredthat apprenticeall orparties aunderstand registeredthe preapprentice,total hisamount orof herapprenticeship funding shalland beallocations. calculated as follows:

The student’sterms calculatedof FTE,a pluspartnership thebetween weightedan on-the-jobapprenticeship trainingor funding,Page plus2 theof weighted7 relatedCODING: technical instruction funding.

(5) ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT OF FUNDING RATES.—The department shall annually review and adjust the funding rate based on the consumer price index or a similar economic indicator to ensure the sustainability of program costs.

(6) ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR HIGH-DEMAND OCCUPATIONS.— Programs serving high-demand occupations identified by this state may receive additional incentives through performance- based adjustments to ensure program alignment with this state’s economic needs.

(7) DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDING.— (a) Each program shall choose one of the following as a method of receiving funding pursuant to this section:

1.

The program may partner with a local educational agency and determine an equitable split of funding.

The local educational agency shall ensure that all parties understand the total amount of funding and allocations.

The terms of a partnership between a program and a local educational agency must be documented in an agreement or a contract.

A local educational agency may not impose additional fees or withhold additional funds beyond the agreed upon amount in such agreement or contract unless explicitly outlined to ensure financial Page 5 of 10 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1458 18-00590A-25589-03066-25 20251458__20251458c1 claritypreapprenticeship program and preventa unexpectedlocal costseducational foragency programmust sponsors;be documented in an agreement or a contract.

A local educational agency may not impose additional fees or 2.withhold additional funds beyond the agreed upon amount in such agreement or contract unless explicitly outlined to ensure financial clarity and prevent unexpected costs for apprenticeship and preapprenticeship program sponsors.

(b) The program may receive such funding directly from the department toshall allowAdopt flexibilityrules fornecessary diverse administrative needs and to ensureadminister that the programstandards retainsand controlpolicies. over operations while adhering to state standards.

To(2) beBy eligibleNovember to30 receiveSeptember such1 funding directly from the department, the sponsor, including any educational institution, committee, individual or group of employers,each localyear, workforcepublish board,an community-basedannual orreport faith-basedon organization,apprenticeship orand association,preapprenticeship orprograms. any combination thereof, must have:

a.The report must be published on the department’s website and, at a minimum, include all of the following:

State-approved(a) programA standards.list of registered apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs, sorted by local educational agency, as defined in s.

b.1004.02(18), and apprenticeship sponsor, under s.

A446.071. letter of commitment from the participating employers or the sponsoring registered apprenticeship program.

c.(b) A detailed summary of each local educational agency’s and apprenticeship or preapprenticeship program’s responsibilities, costs, and expenditure of funds for apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs, including, but not limited to, all the following:

Evidence that the sponsor qualifies to receive such funding.

d.

Evidence that the related technical instruction is being delivered in an appropriate manner consistent with state- approved program standards.

A program may use both methods of funding, but may only submit a registered apprentice or registered preapprentice for one method of funding per year.

(b) Student enrollment must be reported to the department by the second week of classes.

The department shall remit payment within 30 days after verifying that the program is enrolled in the Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database System and that enrollment in the program is accurate.

(8) PROGRAM DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.—Each program:

(a) May establish reasonable enrollment limits based on Page 6 of 10 CODING:

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words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1458 18-00590A-25 20251458__ factors that include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

FacilityThe availability.total amount of funds received and expended for apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs.

InstructorThe capacity.total amount of funds received and allocated by training provider, program, and occupation.

Industry-specificThe total amount of funds expended for administrative costs by training requirements.provider, program, and occupation, and the total number of personnel hours required to administer each Page 3 of 7 CODING:

ClearWords communicationstricken ofare suchdeletions; enrollment limits is required to align participant expectations with program resources and for continued eligibility for funding.

(b)words Must,underlined ifare suchadditions. program is funded pursuant to subparagraph (7)(a)2., submit an annual report to the department.

TheFlorida reportSenate must- include2025 allCS offor theSB following:1458 589-03066-25 20251458c1 apprenticeship and preapprenticeship program.

4.

The total amount of funds expended for instructional costs by training provider, program, and occupation.

(c) The number of apprentices and preapprentices per trade and occupation.

(d) The percentage of apprentices and preapprentices who complete their respective programs in the appropriate timeframe.

(e) Information and resources related to applications for new apprenticeship programs and technical assistance and requirements for potential applicants.

(f) Documentation of activities conducted by the department to promote apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs through public engagement, community-based partnerships, and other initiatives and the outcomes of such activities and their impact on establishing or expanding apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs.

(g) Retention and completion rates of participants disaggregated by training provider, program, and occupation.

(h) Wage progression of participants as demonstrated by starting, exit, and postapprenticeship wages at 1 and 5 years after participants exit the program.

(5)(a) Develop a standard model contract template to be used by local educational agencies and apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs.

At a minimum, the contract template shall include sections to address the following:

EnrollmentThe data.parties to the contract.

YearlyThe completionduration rates.of the contract.

SignificantThe outcomes.funds paid or received pursuant to the contract.

HowThe fundsresponsibilities wereassigned used to supporteach instruction,party procureto materials,the andPage support4 operations.of 7 CODING:

(c) Is encouraged to expand into nontraditional industry sectors, including, but not limited to, health care, information technology, advanced manufacturing, and other emerging fields.

(9) DEPARTMENT DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.—The department:

(a) Shall create a standard model contract and agreement to be used pursuant to this section.

(b) May issue voluntary guidelines to encourage programs to expand capacity, particularly in high-demand occupations, without mandating specific growth targets.

Such guidance must support sustainable growth to meet workforce demands while preserving program autonomy.

(c) Shall support programs expanding into nontraditional Page 7 of 10 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1458 18-00590A-25589-03066-25 20251458__20251458c1 industrycontract, sectors,including including,which butparty notis limitedresponsible to,for healthproviding care,equipment, informationrelated technology,technical advancedinstruction, manufacturing, and otheron-the-job emergingtraining; fields.

(d)hiring Mustinstructors collaborateand withevaluating workforcesuch developmentinstructors’ partners,credentials including CareerSource Florida, Inc., to align programs with broader economic and laborqualifications; goals.

(e)and Mustproviding ensureadministrative streamlinedsupport, reportingincluding requirementsany andreporting minimalrequirements. administrative burdens.

(10)5. IMPLEMENTATION.—The funding formula established in this section shall be used for programs beginning in the 2026- 2027 fiscal year.

(11)A RULEMAKING.—Therequirement Statethat Boardeach ofparty Educationfollow shallall adoptapplicable rulesfederal toand implementstate thelaws funding formula established in this section, which includes eligibility criteria, performance metrics, and fundinginsurance guidelines.requirements.

Section6. 2.

SubsectionThe (7)execution isof addedsuch tocontract. section 1003.493, Florida Statutes, to read:

1003.493(b) CareerA andlocal professionaleducational academiesagency and career-an themedapprenticeship courses.—or (7)(a)preapprenticeship Anyprogram localprovider educational agency that partnerspartner with a private provider to provide apprenticeship or preapprenticeship education and training programs shallmust administerdefine anytheir relevantrespective roles in the partnership agreement and establish how the funding aswill follows:be divided.

The partnership agreement must divide the funding based on the responsibilities that the local educational agency and apprenticeship or preapprenticeship program provider will hold in the partnership agreement.

If the local educational agency providesdoes pass-throughnot servicesprovide only,classroom thespace, fundingrelated levelstechnical mustinstruction, or on-the-job training services, its role is deemed to be providedadministrative asonly follows:and its funding share may not exceed 10 percent.

a.2.

TheIf entitythe thatlocal provideseducational agency and apprenticeship or preapprenticeship program provider share the responsibilities of providing administrative support, classroom space, related technical instructioninstruction, and on-the-job training, the manner in which the agency and provider divide the funding must receivebe 50directly percenttied to each of their responsibilities under the funding.partnership agreement.

b.(6) By July 1, 2026, develop an apprenticeship and Page 5 of 7 CODING:

The entity that provides the technical, on-the-job training must receive 40 percent of the funding.

c.

The local educational agency that provides only the Page 8 of 10 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1458 18-00590A-25589-03066-25 20251458__20251458c1 pass-throughpreapprenticeship servicesfunding musttransparency receivetool 10showing percenthistorical offunding amounts provided to school district and Florida College System institution apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs from workforce development funds and other funds appropriated by the funding.Legislature.

2.The transparency tool shall be published on the Department of Education’s website and shall include historical funding amounts searchable by the source of funds, school district, or Florida College System institution for the preceding 3 fiscal years.

IfSection the2. local educational agency provides pass-through services and administrative support, the funding levels must be provided as follows, as determined by the Department of Education pursuant to paragraph (b):

a.Paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of section 1011.80, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

The1011.80 entityFunds for operation of workforce education programs.— (7)(a) A school district or a Florida College System institution that provides theworkforce relatededucation technicalprograms instructionshall must receive betweenfunds 45in accordance with distributions for base and 50performance percentfunding ofestablished by the funding.Legislature in the General Appropriations Act.

b.To ensure equitable funding for all school district workforce education programs and to recognize enrollment growth, the Department of Education shall use the funding model developed by the District Workforce Education Funding Steering Committee to determine each district’s workforce education funding needs.

TheAny entityDistrict thatWorkforce providesEducation Funding Steering Committee meeting held for the technical,purpose on-the-jobof trainingtaking mustaction receiveor betweenrecommending 35the andworkload 40for percentthe funding model used by the Department of Education shall be publicly noticed 7 days in advance, be open to the funding.public, and provide a reasonable opportunity for public comment.

c.All workpapers shall be published and distributed at the time of Page 6 of 7 CODING:

The local educational agency that provides the pass- through services and administrative support must receive between 10 and 20 percent of the funding.

(b) To receive the amount of funding specified in subparagraph (a)2., a local educational agency must provide documentation to the department on the amount of services provided for apprenticeship or preapprenticeship programs.

Based on such documentation, the department shall establish percentages of funding required under subparagraph (a)2.

Any funding percentages that remain from the local educational agency must be equally split between the entity providing related technical instruction and the entity providing technical, on-the-job training.

(c) Each local educational agency must submit a report to the department each year by June 1 and December 1 detailing the responsibility between the local educational agency and the private provider with which it partners for apprenticeship or preapprenticeship programs.

The report must contain the amount it costs to support the programs, the total number of personnel Page 9 of 10 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1458 18-00590A-25589-03066-25 20251458__20251458c1 hoursnotice. required to administer the programs, the total number of students who are provided program opportunities by the local educational agency, and any other relevant documentation.

(d)Such Themeetings departmentmay shallbe submitheld ausing reportcommunications annually,media beginningtechnology. August 1, 2026, to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives detailing the total amount of funding each local educational agency receives to provide pass-through services for apprenticeship or preapprenticeship programs, the total amount of funding each local educational agency receives to provide both pass-through services and administrative support, the total number of hours each local educational agency used to administer the apprenticeship or preapprenticeship programs, the total number of students participating in apprenticeship or preapprenticeship programs statewide, and the total number of private providers currently working with each local educational agency.

For purposes of this paragraph, the term “communications media technology” means telephone conference, video conference, or other communications technology by which all persons attending a public meeting or workshop may audibly communicate.

To assist the Legislature in allocating workforce education funds in the General Appropriations Act, the funding model shall annually be provided to the legislative appropriations committees no less than 2 months before the start of the regular session of the Legislature later than March 1.

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