Alabama Senate OKs ending school permission form for young teens to work

Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, the chair of the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee, asks a question during a budget presentation in the Alabama Statehouse on Feb. 6, 2024. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

A bill that would remove school official approval from the requirements for employed 14- and 15-year-olds passed the Alabama Senate Tuesday.

SB 53 , sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, would repeal the “eligibility to work form,” required to be signed by the head administrator, counselor or home-school instructor for a 14- or 15-year-old to work. The bill would not impact other child labor laws, such as the maximum amount of hours a child could work.

“So what this bill does right now, under current law, if you’re 14 or 15, you have to go to the local school superintendent to get permission to get a job after school or whenever,” Orr said. “This bill would say you don’t have to go to the superintendent to get a job and to get permission to get a job.”

The bill passed 34-0 and goes to the House of Representatives.

Amendments from Democrats were added to the bill on the floor.

Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham, who had expressed concerns about the bill in its committee meeting, had an amendment that requires a report to the Legislature with information on:

• “The age, county of residence, race, sex, national origin, school status, and length of employment for each employee 14 or 15 years of age”
• “The North American Industry Classification System code of each employer”
• “Injury report statistics of all employees at each worksite compared to injury report statistics for employees 14 or 15 years of age at each worksite.”
• “Criminal charges, convictions, administrative proceedings, and lawsuits related to labor violations regarding employees 14 or 15 years of age at each worksite.”

The amendment also requires the report to “provide data in a format capable of displaying multivariable search results on a state website to facilitate public access to the information.”

The amendment passed 34-0.

Orr also added an amendment to the bill that he said came from discussion with Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, during the committee meeting. The amendment includes a change that minors under 17 must inform parents of their employment. It passed 34-0.

Figures confirmed Tuesday evening in a phone call that the amendment was written how she hoped.

The post Alabama Senate OKs ending school permission form for young teens to work appeared first on Alabama Reflector .