Bill
Bill > S1300
summary
Introduced
01/07/2026
01/07/2026
In Committee
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to education and workforce development for current and former inmates; amending s. 334.044, F.S.; authorizing the Department of Transportation to expend certain funds for all workforce development programs, rather than only construction workforce development programs; revising the entities to which and the purposes for which the department may provide certain grants; amending s. 334.62, F.S.; requiring that certification and training opportunities include training for specified commercial driver licenses for certain inmates; authorizing the department to use workforce development funds for certain certification and training opportunities; creating s. 446.55, F.S.; defining the term “employer”; authorizing employers to apply to the Department of Financial Services for reimbursement of the cost of certain workers’ compensation and automobile liability premiums, subject to appropriation; providing requirements for the reimbursement application; providing requirements and restrictions for reimbursement; requiring the department to process an application and notify the applicant within a specified timeframe; requiring the department to coordinate with the employer for a certain purpose; providing reimbursement limits; amending s. 944.801, F.S.; requiring the Correctional Education Program under the Department of Corrections to include specified information in a report annually submitted to the Secretary of Corrections; authorizing the Correctional Education Program to develop and implement a vocational curriculum in which certain inmates can earn specified commercial driver licenses; amending s. 945.091, F.S.; conforming a provision to changes made by the act; amending s. 945.0913, F.S.; authorizing inmates to drive a state-owned vehicle under certain circumstances; providing an effective date.
AI Summary
This bill expands workforce development and education opportunities for current and former inmates in Florida. It allows the Department of Transportation (DOT) to use funds for broader workforce development programs, not just construction, and to provide grants to more entities, including private educational providers, for training and certification within the Florida Transportation Academy. Crucially, it mandates that certification and training opportunities for certain inmates, including those with two years or less remaining on their sentence, must include training for commercial driver licenses (CDLs), specifically Class A and Class B, within correctional facilities. The bill also establishes a program where employers can apply to the Department of Financial Services for reimbursement of workers' compensation and automobile liability premiums for former inmates with less than two years of commercial driving experience, subject to appropriation and specific limits. Additionally, the Correctional Education Program within the Department of Corrections will now include specific information in its annual report, such as the number of inmates completing vocational training and their subsequent employment, and will be authorized to develop and implement vocational curricula for CDL training for eligible inmates. Finally, the bill allows inmates participating in or having graduated from a department career and technical education program or a contracted CDL training program to drive state-owned vehicles on designated department property.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Senate Fiscal Policy Hearing (12:00:00 3/2/2026 412 Knott Building) (on 03/02/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1300 |
| Analysis - Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1300/Analyses/2026s01300.aeg.PDF |
| Analysis - Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government (Pre-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1300/Analyses/2026s01300.pre.aeg.PDF |
| Analysis - Criminal Justice (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1300/Analyses/2026s01300.cj.PDF |
| Analysis - Criminal Justice (Pre-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1300/Analyses/2026s01300.pre.cj.PDF |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1300/BillText/Filed/HTML |
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