A Florida House Republican, Representative Linda Chaney, introduced a bill on Monday aimed at revising existing labor regulations for 16 and 17-year-olds in the state. House Bill 49, or HB 49, seeks to eliminate specific employment limitations that currently restrict the working hours of these teenagers, enabling them to work longer hours, even when school is in session.
The proposed legislation would “eliminate certain employment restrictions for minors aged 16 and 17 years,” which currently prohibit them from working during the early morning or late at night and restrict their weekly work hours to no more than 30 when school is in session.
This initiative mirrors similar efforts made by Republicans in Arkansas, where House Bill 1410, which removed the necessity for work permits for children under 16 as a condition of employment, was presented to Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders in March.
The backdrop for these legislative moves includes a nationwide debate over relaxing child labor laws as the United States continues to grapple with a labor shortage. The country saw a significant reduction in its workforce during the pandemic, and certain sectors are still struggling to find an adequate number of workers.
Florida stands out as one of the states that has a higher percentage of its labor force currently employed compared to pre-pandemic levels, as reported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. According to the chamber, Florida currently has 57 available workers for every 100 open job positions.
Under the existing Florida law, individuals aged 16 and 17 are “prohibited from employment, permission, or work before 6:30 a.m. or after 11:00 p.m., and are limited to working no more than 8 hours on any school day that is followed by a scheduled school day.” The law also stipulates that children aged 14 are generally not allowed to be employed, except under certain limited exceptions.
Representative Chaney’s proposed bill seeks to completely remove this particular provision from Florida’s labor laws, while also lowering the existing age restrictions for 16 and 17-year-olds to include those aged 15.
The bill is likely to spark discussions on the balance between ensuring the welfare and educational needs of young workers and addressing the labor needs of industries in the state of Florida.