A proposed Florida law seeking to roll back restrictions on teenage labor was drafted by a far-right conservative think tank pushing similar efforts nationwide
A new measure in Florida aims to allow 16-year-old kids to drop out of school and work full time.
An amendment to HB 49 — offered by the bill’s author, state Rep. Linda Chaney ® — would eliminate laws that prevent 16 and 17-year-olds from working more than 30 hours a week, impose 8-hour workday restrictions, and guarantee mandated breaks every four hours.
The bill, introduced in September and now under review by the Florida House Regulatory Reform and Economic Development Subcommittee, would relegate 16 and 17-year-olds to virtually the same status as an employee who is over 18 years of age — provided that the teens have either formally dropped out of school or are taking classes online or at home. Furthermore, the bill would also severely curtail local municipalities’ ability to implement their own provisions to combat the workplace exploitation of minors.
So how does a full time employee 16 year old protect their income from being taken by guardians? Can you get a checking account without a parent signing on? How does a 16 year old arrange for housing needs or set up accounts to pay utilities?
That’s not their problem. These lawmaker’s only concern is protecting the interests of the business owners they represent above their constituents, they couldn’t care less what happens to the kids their stripping labor protections from.
From what I understand, the only real way would be for the kid to protect their money is to put it in some sort of trust or custodial account (which they would likely need an adult to help set up) until they turn 18.
A 16 year old can get emancipation from the court in Florida. Doing so would make it so parents or guardian would no longer have claim over any money earned.
That’s the one decent argument for this law; an emancipated 16 year old needs the ability to work a full time job to support themselves as no one else is legally required to do so.