Sen. Jay Collins Credit: Photo by Colin Hackley/NSF

Republican Sen. Jay Collins of Hillsborough County has filed a bill allowing employers to schedule minors to work at any time and for more than 30 hours per week.

SB 918, filed Wednesday afternoon, rehashes Republicans’ attempts during the 2024 legislative session to remove break requirements and scheduling limits for teenagers. Although the Legislature passed what was one of the most contested bills last year, the final result requires parents to sign a waiver for 16- and 17-year-olds to work more than 30 hours per week while school is in session and maintain a 30-minute break every four hours of their shift.

Collins wants to remove the waiver requirement for older teens and let them work earlier than 6:30 a.m. and after 11 p.m. on school nights. SB 918 would also get rid of the breaks. There is no House counterpart yet.

The changes wouldn’t only apply to minors over 16. Under the proposal, 14- and 15-year-olds who have graduated from high school, earned a GED, are homeschooled, or attend virtual school could also work longer hours.

The senator did not immediately respond to Florida Phoenix’s request for comment.

Approximately 61,318 of 16- and 17-year-olds who attend school in Florida are also employed, according to an analysis of last year’s legislation from the Florida Policy Institute. The group opposed the changes Republicans originally proposed but considered the final version that is now law less harmful.

Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com.

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