Latest news with #SB918
Forbes
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Florida's SB 918 Proposes Rolling Back Child Labor Laws For 14+ Year Olds. Fair Or Too Fast?
Girl and boy lean in to cut vegetables for cooking food. How young is too young to work long hours? That is a subjective question that has come into the spotlight due to a recent action taken in the Florida Senate. In a move that may reignite debates over child labor laws, Florida lawmakers are advancing a bill, SB 918, that would loosen restrictions on teen work hours in the state. Last year, the state passed a law allowing parents, guardians or school superintendents to waive the 30-hour work week limit for 16- and 17-year-olds during the school year. This new proposal would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work more than eight hours on school nights and over 30 hours a week during the school year, without mandated breaks. For 14- and 15-year-olds who are homeschooled, attend virtual school or have graduated high school, the bill would also remove restrictions on overnight work. Supporters of the bill, led by state Rep. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, argue that it aligns Florida's labor laws with federal standards and empowers parents to make decisions for their children. Critics, however, warn of potential exploitation, sleep deprivation, and academic decline for young workers, endangering their health, education and mental well-being—particularly as mental health statistics for 14- to 17-year-olds show a rise in depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 04: Florida State Sen. Jay Collins attends the Florida Freedom Summit ... More at the Gaylord Palms Resort on November 04, 2023 in Kissimmee, Florida. The Republican Party of Florida hosted the summit as candidates continue to campaign across the country. (Photo by) Is it possible to balance between parental rights, economic opportunity and the potential risks to young workers' well-being? It's tough to draw the line. Florida laws governing children's work hours have changed numerous times since they were first enacted in 1913. The last dramatic change was in 1986, extending the curfew and ban on working more than six days in a row to those aged 17 and younger. One senator, Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, suggested the bill is being introduced to address labor shortages caused by Florida's crackdown on illegal immigration. While Senator Tracie Davis, D-Jacksonville, highlighted the potential for sleep deprivation, academic decline and increased pressure on students to support their families financially. Today, 218 million children work across the globe. Of these, 70% are in activities classified as child labor, under local laws. Child labor is often viewed as a rights issue; it is also an economic issue. Historically, child labor laws have been implemented to protect young workers from unsafe conditions and excessive hours, ensuring their education and well-being are not compromised. In America, illegal child labor has been on the rise. Between October 2022 and July 2023, the Department of Labor concluded 765 child labor cases, finding 4,474 children employed in violation of federal child labor laws. This resulted in more than $6.6 million in penalties against employers. That represents a 44% increase in the number of children illegally employed and an 87% increase in penalties compared to the same period the year before, according to the Labor Department. Two young seasonal farm workers pick onions in the farmlands of Amik Plain, located on the Syrian ... More border in Reyhanli district of Hatay, Turkey, on May 23, 2024. (Photo by MURAT KOCABAS/Bakr Al-Azzawi/AFP via Getty Images) The debate over SB 918 underscores the delicate balance between economic opportunity and worker protections. As Florida moves forward with this legislation, it is crucial to consider the long-term implications for the state's youngest workers and the broader societal values at stake. History has shown that child labor laws are not just about regulating work hours—they are about safeguarding the future of our youth. And as the pendulum swings toward deregulation, Florida must ensure that it protects the well-being of its youngest workers. One large question remains: Will this legislation empower teens and families, or will it open the door to exploitation and harm? Florida's lawmakers must weigh the economic benefits against the potential costs to the state's future generation.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida Legislators Propose New Bill To Let Kids Work Overnight Shifts — & Yes, They're Serious
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. More from SheKnows The Best Part-Time Jobs for Moms That Allow You to Make Extra Money But Still Care for Kids 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 of SheKnows Brilliant Boy Names You Didn't Know Were Invented by Authors Gorgeous Girl Names You Didn't Know Were Invented by Authors Every Endearing Nickname the Royal Family Has For One Another, From Lou-Bugs to Lottie
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida Senate committee votes to repeal child labor restrictions
The Target store on West Tennessee St. in Tallahassee on Dec. 31, 2024. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix) Teenaged Florida students would no longer be restricted by laws limiting working hours for teenagers under a bill moving in the Florida Senate. Republican Sen. Jay Collins faced opposition from members of both parties and from children's advocates during the Commerce and Tourism committee Tuesday morning, when he presented his bill, SB 918. 'This is a parental-rights thing. Parents know their kids best. I can promise you that, even though I was challenged, my mom would have smacked me with a flip flop if my academic grades had suffered, that's very much the same thing in most families. For those that don't, often this is the respite they need to step forward and grow and become the best version of themselves,' Collins said. The bill would allow 16- and 17-year-olds and certain 14- and 15-year-olds to work overnight on school days and work longer than eight hours the day before school days. Public-comment speakers feared that the bill would take power away from parents and give it to employers. Florida law provides an opportunity to opt out of working restrictions. Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith noted a line from Gov. Ron DeSantis last week during a roundtable at New College of Florida on immigration. 'Why do we say that we need to import foreigners, even import them illegally, when, you know, teenagers used to work at these resorts, college students should be able to do this stuff,' DeSantis said. DeSantis was 'saying the quiet part out loud, the quiet part being that we're somehow going to solve the current labor shortage that we have in Florida, that was worsened with anti-immigrant rhetoric, with child labor,' Smith said. Collins later told reporters that he believes DeSantis was talking about 'soft skills' benefits of young people working. Collins reiterated that workers remain protected under the Fair Labor Standards Act, a federal law spelling out labor protections for minors, including prohibiting hazardous working conditions. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The measure advanced 5-4, with three Democrats joined by Republican Sen. Joe Gruters in opposition. 'I think this sends a bad message,' Gruters said. 'I think we need to let kids be kids, I think the guardrails that we're removing, even though it may be a part of federal law, not in favor of it.' According to Florida Policy Institute, more than 110,000 Florida workers would be affected by the bill. An uncommonly long list of public commenters advocated against the bill. Jackson Oberlink from Florida For All suggested labor shortages can be addressed by other means. 'This is not about opportunity, it's about exploitation. Make no mistake, the children who will suffer the most under this law will be low-income, working-class, and migrant youth, the same communities that corporations already exploit. Let's be honest about the real labor crisis in Florida — it's not a worker shortage, it's a wage shortage,' Oberlink said. Republican Sens. Nick DiCeglie and Tom Wright said that, although they voted up, they want to continue the conversation about how the legislation could be improved before it goes in front of the entire Senate. 'This is not about corporations, this is not about demonizing small businesses or Publix or organizations out there,' Collins said. Instead, he continued, it's about students learning 'soft skills,' 'self-determination,' managing money, and growing. Collins said he would continue to work on the bill. The bill has two more committee stops, Regulated Industries and Rules, before it would head to the Senate floor. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
CBS News
25-03-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Florida Senate panel advances bill to further roll back child labor restrictions
A year after lawmakers relaxed the state's child labor laws, a divided Florida Senate panel on Tuesday gave initial approval to a measure that would further roll back work restrictions for kids as young as 14. The proposal, which builds on the 2024 law, sparked heated debate, with critics of the plan saying it would lead to exploitation of children and proponents calling it a "parental rights" issue. The bill (SB 918) would do away with restrictions on 16- and 17-year-olds, who would be able to work more than eight hours a day on school nights and over 30 hours a week while school is in session, without mandated breaks. In addition, the measure aims to remove restrictions for 14- and 15-year-olds who have graduated from high school, are home-schooled or attend virtual school. Bill sponsor Jay Collins, R-Tampa, told the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee that the bill would bring Florida into line with federal labor laws. Most of the jobs held by teens are in safe environments such as grocery stores, according to Collins. "Ultimately, we're not talking about 'The Jungle' by Upton Sinclair. We're talking about them working at Publix, at Piggly Wiggly or jobs within the industry," Collins said, referring to the book that exposed bad working conditions in the meatpacking industry. "This is a parental rights thing. Parents know their kids best." But Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, said the bill could allow employers to force young people to work long hours or risk being fired. Smith suggested the changes are being floated to help fill employment gaps triggered by the state's crackdown on illegal immigration. Smith also questioned the rationale for allowing children as young as 14 to work overnight hours on a school night if they are home-schooled or enrolled in virtual school. "This bill is going to lead to exploitation of minors, exploitation of children," Smith argued. Sen. Tracie Davis, D-Jacksonville, reiterated comments from various young people who spoke against the proposal and outlined potential problems if the bill becomes law, such as sleep deprivation, academic decline or increased pressure on students who are working to help their families financially. The bill "takes away basic safeguards" for children, Davis said. "There is something detrimentally wrong with what we're doing here in this legislation," she added. The Legislature last year passed a law that maintained a 30-hour work week limit for 16- and 17-year-olds when school is in session, but it allowed parents, guardians or school superintendents to waive the 30-hour limit.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers continue push to roll back child labor laws, undercut minimum wage
Some Florida teenagers could soon be working night shifts before a school day, and for less than the minimum wage. Two bills moving in the Legislature would remove a ban on some teen employees working after 11 p.m. or before 6:30 p.m. before a school day and allow worker classed as interns or trainees to opt to receive sub-minimum wage pay. Democrats and worker advocates have slammed both bills as enabling exploitation of young workers at the expense of their education. 'So we're going to make children work long hours and they're going to opt out of the minimum wage? What kind of future are we creating for them?' Sen. Kristen Arrington, D-Kissimmee, said during a debate in the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee on Tuesday over SB 918, the child labor bill. But supporters of the bills say they're helping teens gain work experience and develop skills that will benefit them in the workplace in the future. Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, sponsor of SB 918 said parents should be able to decide whether to permit their child to work night hours, and teen workers wouldn't be in dangerous working conditions. 'Frankly, we're not talking 'The Jungle' by Upton Sinclair. We're talking about them working at Publix or Piggly Wiggly or jobs within that industry,' Collins said. He also noted the bill, while removing child labor restrictions in state law, still keeps standards under federal law, which isn't as strict. Florida law, though, already has a waiver program that allows school administrators to allow a student to work late hours. 'Right now parents and students have the flexibility. They have the flexibility because of the waiver program. This bill takes that flexibility away and gives it to the employer,' said Rich Templin, director of public policy with the Florida AFL-CIO. Even some Republicans expressed reservations about rolling back child labor protections. GOP Sens. Tom Wright of New Smyrna Beach and Nick DiCeglie of Indian Rocks Beach said they're voting for it but want to see changes to the bill moving forward. Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, voted against it, meaning it barely passed the panel on a 5-4 vote. 'We need to let kids be kids,' said Gruters, a former chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. 'I just think it sends a bad message and I think we should allow kids to work the hours they're allowed now under the waiver system.' At the same time that bill was moving through the Senate, a House panel was considering HB 541, which would allow interns, workforce trainees and those in pre-apprenticeship programs to opt to receive a salary below the minimum wage. Rep. Ryan Chamberlin, R-Belleview, the bill sponsor, said the measure is needed to allow companies to offer job training opportunities to people. 'The answer to why people would choose this - that is that they see value outside of the pay,' Chamberlin told the House Careers and Workforce Subcommittee. 'They see an opportunity to gain some experience they otherwise would not be able to gain that would further them and then jump them way past, hopefully, minimum wage in the future.' Florida voters approved an increase to the minimum wage in 2020, rising it by $1 each year until it reaches $15 per hour by Oct. 1, 2026. The minimum wage is currently $13 per hour. 'I just don't think that this is going to work,' said Rep. Allison Tant, D-Tallahassee. 'We're in a workforce shortage and I don't think paying people less is going to bring more people to the workplace.' The bill passed through the committee on a 12-4 party line vote, with Democrats opposed. The Senate version of the bill, SB 676, cleared the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee later on Tuesday, also on a party line vote. Each bill has one more committee hearing before heading to their respective chambers for a floor vote. Gray Rohrer is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at grohrer@ Follow him on X: @GrayRohrer. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Lawmakers push to roll back child labor laws, undercut minimum wage
