CS/CS/HB 127 2025
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hb127-02-c2
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to exceptional student education; 2
creating s. 1003.5717, F.S.; requiring the Department 3
of Education to develop and implement, by a specified 4
date, a workforce credential program for students with 5
an autism spectrum disorder or students on a modified 6
curriculum; providing the purpose of the program; 7
providing requirements for the program; requiring the 8
department to produce an annual report duri ng a 9
specified timeframe; providing requirements for the 10
report; providing an effective date. 11
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 13
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Section 1. Section 1003.5717, Florida Statutes, is created 15
to read: 16
1003.5717 Workforce cr edential program for students with 17
an autism spectrum disorder or students on a modified 18
curriculum.—The Department of Education shall develop and 19
implement by January 31, 2026, a workforce credential program 20
for students with an autism spectrum disorder o r students on a 21
modified curriculum. The department shall work with the Florida 22
Center for Students with Unique Abilities established under s. 23
1004.6495 for the development and implementation of the program. 24
The purpose of the program is to assist such stu dents in 25
CS/CS/HB 127 2025
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hb127-02-c2
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
securing employment upon graduation. The program must allow for 26
such students to earn badges that designate that the students 27
have acquired specific skills that meet employer needs. 28
(1)(a) Each badge must require the student to demonstrate 29
five discrete skills or behaviors, including, but not limited 30
to, workplace safety. 31
(b) The department shall collaborate with the Occupational 32
Safety and Health Administration to develop a workplace safety 33
badge. 34
(2) The badge must be validated by two membe rs of 35
instructional staff who specialize in exceptional student 36
education. 37
(3) Beginning with the 2026 calendar year through the 2030 38
calendar year, the department shall prepare an annual report by 39
January 31 of the following year detailing the operation s of the 40
program. At a minimum, the report must include the badges 41
offered by the program, data on postgraduation student 42
employment, data on student participation rates in the program, 43
and any other outcome data deemed necessary by the department to 44
be included. 45
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 46