Florida Bill to Loosen Child Labor Regulations on 16 and 17 Year Olds Making Progress
Recently, the Florida Phoenix reported that a reform bill that would loosen up child labor regulations on 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds in the state is making significant progress in the State legislature. Notably, a similar law has been passed in several other states in recent years and the Florida bill could potentially become law in 2024. In this article, you will learn more about the existing labor law, the proposed reforms, and where the bill currently stands in the Florida state legislature.
Know the Law: Existing Workplace Hour Restrictions for 16/17 Year Olds in Florida
Child labor laws apply to minors—and that includes 16 year olds and 17 year olds. Of course, these teenagers are not prevented from working in Florida. Quite the contrary, unlike young children, many teens in this age group have a job. However, Florida law restricts how much 16 and 17 years can work. Here is an overview of the key things to understand about existing law:
- 16/17 year olds may not work during school hours during the school year;
- 16/17 year olds may only work a maximum of 30 hours per week during the school year;
- 16/17 year olds may work up to 8 hours per day—any part of the day—during the summer;
- 16/17 year olds may work for up to 40 hours per work during the summer;
- 16/17 year olds may not work before 6:30 AM or after 11 PM on a school night;
- 16/17 year olds may not work more than six consecutive days; and
- 16/17 year olds may not work for more than 4 straight hours without a 30 minute break.
House Bill 49 (HB 49) Seeks to Loosen Child Labor Regulations in Florida
The last two points on the aforementioned list are highlighted. The reason is that Florida House Bill 49—a proposed legislative reform package—is seeking to eliminate those two requirements for 16 year olds and 17 year olds in Florida.
On the first point, HB 49 would allow these teenagers to work seven consecutive days per week as long as they do not exceed 30 total hours during the school year or 40 total hours during the summer. The current restriction would remain in place for 15 year olds.
On the second point, HB 49 would eliminate that 30 minute break requirement for 16 and 17 year olds after four hours of consecutive work. In doing so, it would treat these workers similar to adult workers. Once again, the existing law would remain in place for 15 year old employees.
Get Help From Our Florida Employment Lawyer Today
Employment law is complicated. It is not uncommon for both employers and employees to have a lot of questions about their rights, responsibilities, and legal options. If you have any questions about a workplace matter, please do not hesitate to contact a Florida employment lawyer for help.
