An important win for business and job seekers in the recent legislative session was the passage of Governor Rick Scott’s Job Creation and Economic Growth Agenda, which includes provisions that enhance transparency, accountability and accessibility of the state’s publicly funded workforce system.
The Regional Workforce Boards Accountability Act (House Bill 7023), signed by Governor Scott on March 28, ensures Florida’s 24 regional workforce boards maintain their focus on providing employment and training services that support job creation and retention for job seekers, workers and businesses.
Among key provisions: the boards’ budgets and expenditures will receive additional state review and requirements; and it gives the governor a clearer path for demanding accountability from volunteer and professional leaders — including the option to remove them for cause. Additionally, the new law tasks Workforce Florida with developing a statewide brand for the entire workforce development system to ensure job seekers and businesses can most efficiently access services and resources available through nearly 100 One-Stop Career Centers.
