Ditchmen • NUCA of Florida Ditchmen • August 2017 | Page 13

Construction Industry Workforce Task Force Update At the behest of a few members of the Construction Coalition (including NUCA FL), the 2016 Legislature enacted the Construction Industry Workforce Task Force comprised of industry stakeholders encompassing every construction trade, including underground utility contractors, to address the shortage of skilled craftspeople in building construction and inspection. NUCA of Florida worked diligently to pass additional legislation in 2017 to direct the Department of Education and CareerSource Florida to work with the task force and the industry to address the current and future needs for education, career training and workforce shortages. Lawmakers Senator Travis Hutson and Representative Dane Eagle were appointed to the taskforce in 2016- 17 and now Senator Keith Perry and Representative Liz Porter have filled the post for 2017-18. Unfortunately, Governor Scott vetoed the $150K appropriation advocated for by NUCA FL that would have provided funding for administration of the task force in 2017-18 and maintenance of the “Florida Build Your Future” website managed by NCCER. Kim Bryan, Petticoat-Schmitt, selflessly serves as the NUCA of Florida appointee on the task force and I recently caught up with Kim to learn more about the recent activity with the task force. During the August 10th Construction Industry Workforce Task Force meeting, the Department of Corrections addressed the attendees to discuss potential partnerships for training and employees upon release from the prison system. CareerSource Florida, the Department of Economic Opportunity and the Department of Education gave introductory presentations on programs and opportunities within their respective agencies to address the ever-growing construction industry workforce demands. Interestingly, CareerSource Florida is pursuing a federal grant aimed to assist with apprenticeship programs. At the heart of the meeting was the introduction of proposed legislative language developed by Douglas Buck, Director of Government Affairs, Florida Home Builders Association, that would provide .25 percent of the 1.5 percent of the building permit surcharge money that funds the Building Code Administrators & Inspectors Board (BCAIB) and the Florida Homeowners Construction Recovery Fund to continue the work of the task force. Contractors currently pay the building permit surcharge and 1.5 percent funds BCAIB and the Recovery Fund and 1.5 percent funds the Florida Building Commission, the Building a Safer Florida Program ($925K) and the non-binding interpretations for the Florida Fire Marshals & Inspectors Association ($15K). The proposed legislation would create a permanent entity—Construction Workforce Round Table (CWRT)—funded by the .25 percent funneled through the Rinker School of Construction. The funds would be utilized for: • Administration of the CWRT; • Research into construction education issues; • Advocacy of construction employment at the K-12 grade level; • Maintenance of the Florida Build Your Future website; • Underwriting job fairs in construction; and, • Sponsorship of after-school activities that focus on construction careers. Membership in the CWRT would include the initial membership of the Construction Industry Workforce Task Force, but additional members could be added. The next meeting of the task force is slated for September 14th, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Florida Concrete & Products Association building, 6353 Lee Vista Blvd., Orlando, and may be the last meeting prior to the 2018 Legislative Session. Be sure to thank NUCA of Florida member Kim Bryan, Petticoat-Schmitt for keeping our industry-specific needs at the forefront of the task force’s agenda. OF By Kari Hebrank, Executive Vice President • • • AUGUST 2017 • DITCHMEN 13