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Senate passes bill loosening child labor laws to let Iowa teens work longer hours

The bill would let 16- and 17-year-olds work in some jobs that are currently prohibited. And it would let 14- and 15-year-olds work longer hours.
www.desmoinesregister.com

Iowa children would be allowed to work longer hours, including in jobs that are currently prohibited such as serving alcohol, under a bill passed by the Iowa Senate early Tuesday morning after a marathon session.

The Senate voted 32-17 just before 5 a.m. Tuesday to pass Senate File 542. Two Republicans, Sens. Charlie McClintock, R-Alburnett, and Jeff Taylor, R-Sioux Center, broke with their colleagues to join every Democrat in opposition.

The House must still pass the bill before it could go to Gov. Kim Reynolds for her signature.

The bill's Republican supporters said it will modernize Iowa's laws and teach children valuable skills through workforce training programs.

"While the responsibility of having a job might be more valuable than having a paycheck, the reward of the paycheck will allow these youth who want to have a job to possibly save for a car, maybe buy a prom dress, go to a summer camp, take a date out for the weekend," said Sen. Adrian Dickey, R-Packwood, the bill's floor manager.

Democrats argued the bill will increase the risk of workplace accidents by exposing inexperienced kids to more dangerous work environments. They tried unsuccessfully to amend the bill to offer additional workers' compensation benefits for teenagers who get injured on the job.

 
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