A pair of bills in the Florida Legislature would significantly ease work restrictions on teenagers, raising concerns about the legislation's impact on child welfare and learning.
Fight for Florida, a coalition of labor, faith and community groups, took to Facebook to criticize the bills, saying they open the door to "exploitation, not opportunity," in a post featuring a picture of a girl in a grove holding a basket of oranges.
Senate Bill 918 and a similar bill, House Bill 1225, would allow employers to schedule 16- and 17-year-olds in Florida for unlimited hours and days without breaks during the school year, including overnight shifts. Employers would be free to have the same scheduling for 14- and 15-year old students who have graduated from high school, are home-schooled or participate in virtual learning.
An amendment to HB 1225 would allow 13-year-olds to work during the summer before their 14th birthday, a change from current law barring those younger than 14 from working unless they are delivering newspapers or working for their parents.
SB 918, sponsored by Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, passed the Commerce and Tourism Committee...
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