Within the ultimate hour of the 2024 legislative session, each the Home and Senate greenlit a invoice (HB 49) poised to shake up the longstanding laws surrounding employment for 16- and 17-year-olds.
The invoice is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The proposal, albeit tempered from its preliminary iteration championed by the Home, sparked controversy as critics contended it may impede college students’ academic pursuits.
Expressing considerations, opponents warned of potential upticks in distractions and college absenteeism, fearing that youths would possibly clock greater than the prescribed 30 hours per week throughout the tutorial time period.
Champions of change
Linda Chaney, the invoice’s Home sponsor hailing from R-St. Pete Seaside, defended the measure, asserting its potential to assist college students already navigating the state’s regulatory maze.
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Echoing this sentiment, Senate sponsor Danny Burgess, representing R-Zephyrhills, underscored the proposal’s intention to furnish larger flexibility for sure 16- and 17-year-olds entrenched within the workforce.
Business backing
Teams such because the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Affiliation supported altering the work restrictions.
It’s reported that after the proposal was scaled again, the Florida AFL-CIO additionally backed the invoice.
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Key provisions
Beneath the invoice’s provisions, a cap of 30 hours per week for 16- and 17-year-olds throughout the college 12 months stays intact.
Nevertheless, mother and father, guardians, or college superintendents may train discretion to waive this limitation.
Moreover, the laws seeks to abolish the restriction on Sunday and vacation work hours for teenagers when college looms the following day.
Moreover, it mandates that minors working eight or extra hours per day obtain a 30-minute meal break after 4 hours on the job.
Navigating controversy
All through its journey by way of committees, the invoice drew fireplace from critics who argued it was crafted to take advantage of minors in addressing labor shortages, significantly these stemming from a dearth of immigrant staff.
Nevertheless, Sadaf Knight, CEO of the Florida Coverage Institute, urged that the ultimate model posed much less of a menace to Florida’s youth in comparison with its earlier rendition.
Legislative seal of approval
On Friday, the Home solid a 76-33 vote in favor of passing the ultimate model, whereas the Senate endorsed it with a vote of 27-11.
The invoice’s passage coincided with a separate vote on a problem aiming to bar people below 21 from working in grownup leisure institutions.
Consultant Anna Eskamani of D-Orlando highlighted the irony of this juxtaposition, elevating considerations over the vulnerability of youthful people to trafficking and harassment in service-related roles left unprotected by the laws.
