Florida Legislators Propose New Bill To Let Kids Work Overnight Shifts — & Yes, They're Serious

Yahoo

27-03-2025

Child labor laws are under attack in Florida, where legislators think the subject should be a matter of 'parental rights.'
The bill (SB 918) would remove restrictions on 16- and 17-year-olds who are currently only allowed to work eight hours a day on school nights and a total of 30 hours a week during the school year, unless they are given approval by guardians or school superintendents to work longer. The bill would also remove restrictions for 14- and 15-year-olds who have graduated high school early, are homeschooled, or attend virtual school.
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Plus, the measure would do away with mandated lunch breaks for older teens.
Bill sponsor Rep. Jay Collins told the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee argued that most jobs held by teens are in safe places like grocery stores, per CBS News.
'Ultimately, we're not talking about The Jungle by Upton Sinclair,' Collins said, referencing the book that exposed horrific working conditions in the meatpacking industry. 'We're talking about them working at Publix, at Piggly Wiggly, or jobs within the industry.'
'This is a parental rights thing,' he continued, meaning parents should get a say on when their kids clock out. 'Parents know their kids best.'
Meanwhile, Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith argued that the bill could allow employers to force young people to work long hours at the risk of being fired. He also questioned the rationale for letting teens as young as 14-year-olds work overnight shifts during the school week. Instead of, ya know, sleeping.
'This bill is going to lead to exploitation of minors, exploitation of children,' he said.
Sen. Tracie Davis agreed, and said that if the bill becomes law, teens across the state will face sleep deprivation, academic decline, or feel increased pressure if they are working to help with their family's finances.
Davis said there is something 'detrimentally wrong' with the bill that 'takes away basic safeguards' for children.
So why are legislators seemingly trying to remove these 'basic safeguards?' Smith suggested it may be to fill employment gaps that are a result of the state's immigration policies. Jobs that were formerly held by undocumented people are now vacant, and during a panel last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis made it sound like Smith was on target.
'Yes, we had people that left because of those rules, but you've also been able to hire other people,' DeSantis said, per Pensacola News Journal. 'And what's wrong with expecting our young people to be working part-time now? I mean, that's how it used to be when I was growing up.'
On March 25, the bill was found 'favorable' by the Commerce and Tourism Committee and now awaits action from the Regulated Industries Committee.Best of SheKnows
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