Florida Lawmakers Put Child Labor Laws At Risk With New Proposed Bill

Republicans in Florida want to put your teenager to work for real.

A new bill was proposed on Dec. 14 that would diminish child labor protections for 16- and 17-year-olds within Florida’s workforce.

Sponsored by Republican State Rep. Linda Chaney, HB 49 would eliminate state guidelines for children, ages 16 and 17, on when they can work and would limit the ability of local government bodies to propose stronger regulations in their communities. The bill, also known as the Employment and Curfew of Minors Bill, would legalize employers to assign overnight shifts for older teens, even on a school night.

Under state law, it is currently illegal for employers to have minors under 18 work more than 30 hours a week throughout the school year, have them work during school hours, have them work between the hours of 11 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., or schedule older teens to work more than six days in a row.

Chaney filed the bill on Sept. 18, 2023, with the assistance of the conservative group The Foundation for Government Accountability. During a hearing of the Florida House Regulatory Reform and Economic Development Subcommittee on Dec. 13, Chaney described the minors in question as “youth workers.” “This bill is not about children. This bill is about 16- and 17-year-olds,” Chaney said, according to Local 10. “These are youth workers that are driving automobiles. These are not children.”

Amendments proposed by Democrats, including language that would require employers who hire minors ages 16 and 17 to hold a record of workplace sexual harassment incidents and provide copies for their parents or guardians, were shot down. The bill was moved with a 10-5 vote by Republican subcommittee members. One of those Democrats who voted against the bill was Rep. Ashley Gantt. The Miami-Dade County representative feared the bill would help employers take advantage of minors.

“There is no definition of a youth worker in statute, so officially that was made up to enact the process of adultification, taking away these last few years that they have to be children and go to school and do things that children do,” Gantt said.

She pointed out that since Republican policies against undocumented migrants have caused a shortage throughout the state, child labor law violations have increased.

To Chaney, she feels her legislation would increase “work flexibility” for older teens and create “opportunity and choice.”

“They want to work,” Chaney said. “This bill gets government out of their way to choose the path that is best for them.”

Florida isn’t the only state making extreme changes to child labor laws. Close to six other states, including Iowa and Arkansas, have been supported by restaurant owners, homebuilders, and hospitality employers to roll back on the labor laws.