Committee approves bill to expand CDL training for eligible inmates as workforce strategy

Representative Kendall presented CS for HB 325 as a workforce initiative to address a shortage of commercial drivers while expanding training opportunities for eligible inmates. He said the state needs roughly 16,000 CDL drivers and the bill would expand existing Department of Corrections programs to teach selected nonviolent inmates who have less than two years left on their sentence, allow supervised driving of state vehicles under DOC oversight, partner with the Florida Department of Transportation’s Florida Transportation Academy, and require an annual report to measure outcomes.

The committee adopted a clarifying amendment to ensure the program targets nonviolent inmates with less than two years remaining; the amendment passed by voice vote. Witnesses from Florida Smart Justice Alliance and the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition waived in support. Committee members praised the bill as a reentry and workforce effort and voted 17-0 to report the bill favorably.

Representative Kendall said the bill requires an annual report to track success; the committee did not discuss specific appropriations in the hearing. The bill will proceed to further committees for fiscal review and scheduling.