TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Florida House subcommittee passed a bill Wednesday that would allow some teens to work more hours, and work earlier or later in the day. It’s the first big step in making the bill a law.
HB 49 deletes a part of current state law that says minors aged 16 or 17 can’t work more than 30 hours a week when school is in session, or for more than eight hours in a day when school is scheduled the next day.
The bill also allows 16 or 17-year-olds to work before 6:30 a.m. or after 11 p.m., and it prohibits city and county governments from passing more stringent child labor rules.
HB 49 was introduced by State Rep. Linda Chaney, a Republican from St. Pete Beach. The bill does not yet have a companion in the Florida Senate, which could hinder the ability of this bill to become law. It has two more committee stops before it gets to the Florida House floor for a vote.
“Nearly a million searches have been performed: ‘How can I get a job as a teen?’” Chaney said. “They want to work. This bill gets government out of their way to choose the path that is best for them.”
Meanwhile, Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet, the executive director of Hope Community Center, railed against the legislation.
“We know that black and brown kids are impacted by poverty in a disproportionate way and may be asked by their own families to be at work instead of school,” she said.
However, a teen at a meeting for public comment on Wednesday gave their thoughts on the issue.
“I feel like (teens) should be given the freedom to choose what they want to take career-wise and their path,” the teen said.
The bill would make Florida the latest state to loosen child labor laws, from expanding the number of hours youth can work, to even removing restrictions on the type of work they can do.
The annual Florida Legislative Session starts in January. If passed, HB 49 would take effect on July 1, 2024.
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