Staff Reports
Senate President Bill Galvano on Tuesday said he had appointed Sen. Travis Hutson to represent the Senate on the new Florida Talent Development Council.
“I am grateful to Sen. Hutson for his commitment to improving career and professional education opportunities for students across Florida,” said Galvano, a Bradenton Republican, in a statement.
“The Talent Development Council will work to identify Florida’s fastest-growing industries and the credentials required for employment in those industries and will assess whether postsecondary degrees, certificates, and other credentials awarded by our postsecondary institutions align with employment needs and job placement rates,” he said.
“This important work will help us better align our education system to the realities of our economy to ensure students graduate with degrees and credentials that lead to the high-wage, high-value jobs needed in our growing communities.”
The bill (HB 7071), sponsored in the Senate by Hutson – a St. Augustine Republican – and signed into law June 24, “reconstitutes the Higher Education Coordinating Council as the Florida Talent Development Council,” a press release explained.
“The Council is tasked with developing a coordinated, data-driven, statewide approach to meeting Florida’s need for a 21st century workforce that utilizes the Florida’s talent supply system. The bill also moves the administrative support for the council from the Department of Education to the Department of Economic Opportunity.
“By December 31, 2019, the council will submit to Gov. (Ron) DeSantis, President Galvano, and Speaker (José) Oliva, the Board of Governors, and the State Board of Education a strategic plan for talent development to accomplish the goal of 60 percent of working-age Floridians holding a high-value postsecondary credential by 2030.”
