CFO Jimmy Patronis Supports Career and Technical Education Legislation

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis issued a statement in support of Senate Bill 460 by Senator Corey Simon. This legislation among many things would recruit students to trades, such as construction and would lower the age requirements for those who wish to work in construction-type jobs. The Bill was reported favorable by the Florida Senate’s Pre-K-12 Education committee on Wednesday.  

CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “I’ve been in business my entire life and there is nothing more empowering than when a young man or women gets a check that they earn for their hard work. By the time a lot of students are 16 or 17 years old, they know what type of job they want to be in. In my opinion, this is a perfect opportunity for students to receive hands on training and explore different trades, such as construction, while earning high school course credit. Getting a paycheck is empowering and it’s something kids can use to grow themselves and their self-confidence while keeping them out of trouble. This legislation will help students identify their career goals much earlier in life and set them up for future success.”

Senator Corey Simon said, “It’s an honor to sponsor this important bill on behalf of Florida’s students. Not every kid is going to go on to our traditional postsecondary institutions and we do a disservice to them if we don’t offer pathways for them to have the success that they deserve and that they’re willing to work for. What we're trying to do is encourage young people that have an interest in those trades to get the work experience needed so that they can go further in their career.”

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About CFO Jimmy Patronis  
Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is a statewide elected official and a member of Florida’s Cabinet who oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Patronis works each day to fight insurance fraud, support Florida’s firefighters, and ensure the state’s finances are stable to support economic growth in the state. Follow the activities of the Department on Facebook (FLDFS) and Twitter (@FLDFS).