Legislature passes weakened child labor bill that exempts homeschoolers
Legislature passes weakened child labor bill that exempts homeschoolers Tampa Bay Times
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Florida Legislature Passes Bill Affecting Teenage Work Hours
Introduction
Florida teenagers may soon be able to work longer on Sundays, after a bill that has been significantly watered down passed the Florida Legislature.
Background
When HB 49 was first proposed, it struck down all the time guidelines regulating when 16- and 17-year-olds can work.
Final Version of the Bill
But in its final version, the bill retains most existing laws, including restrictions on teenagers working earlier than 6:30 a.m. or later than 11 p.m. when school is scheduled the next day.
Impact on Homeschooled and Virtual Schooled Students
The bill will primarily affect homeschooled or virtual schooled 16- and 17-year-olds by exempting them from all regulations on when teenagers can work.
Support from Sen. Danny Burgess
Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, who ran the bill in the Senate, said that was the main appeal for him. Burgess’ children are homeschooled, and he said homeschooled students sometimes finish their day earlier than traditional schools would.
Existing Exemptions
Currently, teenagers who have already graduated, who work for their parents, or who have a granted waiver for hardship are also exempted from the law about when they can work.
Concerns from Democrats
Some Democrats said while they appreciated how the bill had been revised, they still had concerns about how the bill exempts homeschooled students.
Rep. Robin Bartleman, D-Weston, said she hoped the legislature could come back and tweak the language about homeschooled kids.
“You’re going to now put a child in a situation where their parent or guardian can exploit them to work as much as an adult,” she said.
Limitations and Waivers
If Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the bill into law, other 16- and 17-year-olds will be limited to eight hours of work on a day before school, unless it’s a Sunday or a holiday.
Teenagers will also be capped at 30 hours of work per week in the school year, but the bill does change the law to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work seven days in a row. A parent, guardian, or school superintendent could waive the 30-hour limit for any student if they complete an approved form.
Controversy and Opposition
Throughout the 60-day legislative process, the child labor legislation has been mired in controversy and had members of the public speak out against the legislation at each stop.
Support from AFL-CIO Labor Union
But after Florida senators amended it to its final version, a spokesperson for the AFL-CIO labor union, which had previously opposed the bill, said he was in support of it.
Concerns from Florida Policy Institute
The Florida Policy Institute, which also heavily opposed the bill, said the final version of the legislation poses fewer risks to teenagers’ health and safety.
But the group’s CEO Sadaf Knight, in a statement, said there are still concerns about how it would allow employers to schedule some homeschooled teenagers for overnight shifts by exempting them from child labor laws, “putting their education and well-being at risk.”
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 4: Quality Education
The article discusses a bill in Florida that affects the working hours of teenagers, particularly homeschooled or virtual schooled 16- and 17-year-olds. This is connected to SDG 8, which focuses on promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. It is also connected to SDG 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor.
- SDG 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship.
Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are SDG 8.7, which aims to eradicate child labor, and SDG 4.4, which aims to provide relevant skills for employment.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator for SDG 8.7: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group.
- Indicator for SDG 4.4: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill.
The article does not explicitly mention any indicators, but based on the identified targets, the indicators mentioned above can be used to measure progress towards eradicating child labor (SDG 8.7) and providing relevant skills for employment (SDG 4.4).
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor. | Indicator: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group. |
| SDG 4: Quality Education | Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship. | Indicator: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill. |
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Source: tampabay.com
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