LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Kentucky's Republican-dominated House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday to remove state restrictions on child labor, allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to work all night and during school hours.
House Bill 255 repeals Kentucky's state-specific restrictions on employment for 14- to 18-year-olds and removes the power of the state commissioner for workplace standards — part of the governor's administration — to issue regulations to protect children in the workplace.
Supporters said it will be easier for employers to comply with federal law that applies nationwide concerning child labor rather than Kentucky's more restrictive policies, and that removing state restrictions will instill valuable work ethic in teenagers.
Rep. Phil Pratt, R-Georgetown, the owner of a landscaping business, said it's an "economic imperative" to remove "barriers" to teens working because of national "labor crisis."
"Work has value, and teenagers who want to work or need to work ... shouldn't have the Kentucky government stand in the way," Pratt, the lead sponsor of the bill, said on the House floor Thursday.
Democrats decried the policy as opening the door to child exploitation for the convenience of fast-food and other low-wage employers who have trouble filling shifts.
Kentucky currently allows 16- and 17-year-olds to work from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on school nights and until 1 a.m. on other nights, with no restricted hours during summer or school breaks. Current state law also caps the number of hours teens can work at 40 per week with parental permission and a 2.0 grade-point average in school, whereas there would be no restrictions under HB 255.
Rep. Josie Raymond, D-Louisville, said teens have "plenty" of opportunity to work under current standards.
"There are no teenagers who are saying, 'Oh man, I can only work 40 hours a week right now, but if the legislature would just make it unlimited, then I'll go to work 50 hours right away,'" she said.Â
Raymond said teens who are helping support their families through a job won't be able to refuse overnight hours, but the policy will "make life easier for (their) adult employer who doesn't have to recruit another adult to work past midnight in a low-wage job."
Democrats also questioned whether other provisions of the bill would prevent state investigators from enforcing the federal child labor standards, meaning employers would face less risk of being caught in violations.
Rep. Matthew Koch, R-Paris, said concerns about child exploitation are overblown.
"I wish people talking here today would worry a little bit less about how many hours their kids are gonna work and worry a lot more about how many hours their kids are playing Fortnite (video game) until 3 o'clock in the morning and not being able to stay awake at school," he said.
The bill did not command uniform support among House Republicans, passing 60-36. It now heads to the Senate, where Republicans have 31 of 38 seats.
