Des Moines, Iowa — Republicans on committees in the Iowa House and Senate have voted to let teenagers work longer hours and let them work at jobs that are currently off-limits for minors.
Senator Adrian Dickey, a Republican from Packwood, guided the bill through the Senate Workforce Committee.
The bill would let kids who have a permit drive to and from school, drive to and from work.
Teenagers could get permission from their parents to serve alcohol in a bar or restaurant if the bill becomes law. The directors of the Workforce Development and Education Departments could grant waivers so teens could do some kinds of supervised work in places like factories and construction sites. Senator Molly Donahue, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says the bill would put kids in harm’s way.
For example, federal rules prohibit 14- and 15-year-olds from working past 9 p.m. in the summer and 7 p.m. during the school year. The bill would let 14- and 15-year-olds work two hours longer at night. Senator Nate Boulton, a Democrat from Des Moines, says when it comes to children in the workplace, this bill is a step backward.
Senator Dickey accused Democrats of being hypocrites.
A bill approved by Republicans on a different Senate committee would ban minors from receiving hormone treatment or gender reassignment surgery in Iowa.
