港澳天下彩

漏 2024 WLRN
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

The Florida House and Senate disagree on changes to the state's child labor laws

Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, and his two daughters Nora, 4, and Adeline, 9, listen to Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, speak prior to a joint session with the House of Representatives for Gov. Ron DeSantis' State of the State speech, Tuesday, Mar. 7, 2023 at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla.
Phil Sears
/
FR170567 AP
Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, and his two daughters Nora, 4, and Adeline, 9, listen to Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, speak prior to a joint session with the House of Representatives for Gov. Ron DeSantis' State of the State speech, Tuesday, Mar. 7, 2023 at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla.

A proposed controversial bill set to roll back child labor protections in Florida passed its second committee stop Wednesday, but further changes are likely coming due to differences in its Senate companion.

HB 49 would change state law to let 16- and 17-year-olds work more than 30 hours a week during the school year, and work past 11 on school nights, but the Senate version of the bill doesn鈥檛 have those changes.

Sen. Danny Burgess鈥 proposal would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work more than eight hours on Sundays and holidays, and provide an exemption to hour restrictions for students enrolled in home, or virtual school programs.

In a written statement to WFSU, Burgess said was looking to slightly modify, not repeal, the restrictions for 16- and 17-year-olds, while still keeping Florida鈥檚 child labor protections beyond that of federal law.

鈥淲e must thoughtfully balance protecting their well-being and education with their desire or need to be employed. That鈥檚 what this bill has been carefully crafted to do 鈥 find that balance,鈥 he wrote.

House sponsor Linda Chaney amended her bill in the House Local Administration, Federal Affairs & Special Districts Subcommittee Wednesday to include some of Burgess鈥 changes. But she still wants to keep several of the original elements of her text, like removing the 30-hours-a-week limit.

鈥淣early a million searches have been performed on 鈥榟ow can I get a job as a teen?鈥 They [teens] want to work, but these restrictions discourage employers from hiring them,鈥 she said during the hearing.

The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association supports her bill. FRLA Lobbyist Samantha Padgett said during the meeting that small businesses and corporations her association represents are asking for the bill.

鈥淲e believe the intent is not to erode the importance of education, but to reduce unnecessary and restrictive regulation, expand available staffing and grow financial and career development opportunities for young Floridians,鈥 Padgett said.

Critics are concerned minors could be forced by employers to work full-time schedules without parental permission. Florida Rising Lobbyist Jackson Oberlink sees the proposal as part of a national trend.

鈥淪imilar bills have been pushed in multiple states, with Iowa and Arkansas passing them in 2023. This trend is part of a coordinated effort supported by industry organizations and funded by billionaires to aiming to systematically weaken federal labor protections nationwide,鈥 he said.

On the concerns that businesses will pressure children to work full time under her bill, Chaney said the responsibility rests with the minor.

鈥淚 think the protection is they have the choice to get another job or to not take that job,鈥 she said.

Her bill passed the committee stop, but with the Senate and House bills still not aligned. Negotiations are still ongoing.

Copyright 2024 WFSU. To see more, visit .

Tristan Wood is a senior producer and host with WFSU Public Media. A South Florida native and University of Florida graduate, he focuses on state government in the Sunshine State and local panhandle political happenings.
More On This Topic