Des Moines, Iowa — The Iowa Senate has approved a bill that would extend the hours teenagers may work in Iowa and teens would be able to take some jobs they are not allowed to have today.
Debate on the bill started Monday night and it passed with the support of 32 Republicans early today (Tuesday). Two Republicans joined Democrats in voting against the legislation. Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls spoke right after the vote.
Wahls says the bill rolls back protections that have kept children from being exploited in the workplace. Senator Adrian Dickey, a Republican from Packwood, accused Democrats of being hypocrites.
The bill would allow 16 and 17-year-olds to serve alcohol if they have written permission from a parent, but minors would still be barred from working in strip clubs. Fourteen-year-olds would be able to be paid to do things like detassle corn and use chemicals to clean kitchens or work momentarily in meat coolers. Senator Molly Donahue, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says the bill is designed to get more kids from low-income households into the workforce.
Senator Dickey says Republicans are updating the law so eager teenagers can save money for college or a car rather than back a bill from Senate Democrats that would legalize recreational marijuana.
The bill now goes to the House for consideration.
