Michigan Votes

2003 Senate Bill 320 (Revise youth employment limits)

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  • Introduced by Sen. Tony Stamas on March 19, 2003, to revise the law that restricts the maximum number of hours that minors age 16 and 17 who are in school can work. The bill sets the limit at 20 hours a week or 24 hours with parent's permission, rather than the current law’s maximum of 48 hours combined school and work a week. The bill also extends exemptions to certain work limits that currently apply only to youth agricultural workers to also apply to minors doing other types of work.
    • Referred to the Senate Economic Development, Small Business and Regulatory Reform Committee on March 19, 2003.
    • Reported in the Senate on May 4, 2004, with the recommendation that the substitute (S-3) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
    • Substitute offered in the Senate on May 5, 2004, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that prohibits minors from working more than 22 hours in a school week, rather than 20 hours, or 24 hours with their parents' permission. The substitute also strips out a provision extending work limit exemptions that currently apply only to youth agricultural workers to minors doing other types of work. The substitute passed in the Senate by voice vote on May 5, 2004.
  • Passed in the Senate (29 to 8) on May 6, 2004, to revise the law that restricts the maximum number of hours that minors age 16 and 17 who are in school can work. The bill sets the limit at 22 hours a week, rather than the current law’s maximum of 48 hours combined school and work a week. [Vote Details and Comments]
  • Received in the House on May 6, 2004.
    • Referred to the House Commerce Committee on May 6, 2004.
    • Reported in the House on May 25, 2004, without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill pass.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. James Koetje and Rep. Jack Minore on June 1, 2004, to prohibit minors from working more than 20 hours in a school week, rather than 22 hours. The amendment failed in the House by voice vote on June 1, 2004.
  • Passed in the House (75 to 31) on June 1, 2004, to revise the law that restricts the maximum number of hours that minors age 16 and 17 who are in school can work. The bill sets the limit at 22 hours a week, rather than the current law’s maximum of 48 hours combined school and work a week. [Vote Details and Comments]
  • Vetoed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on June 28, 2004.
  • Received in the Senate on June 29, 2004.

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Comments

Introduced by Sen. Tony Stamas on March 19, 2003. Passed in the Senate (29 to 8) on May 6, 2004. New Comment

1) Sen. Basham's "journal statement" [by Admin003 on May 7, 2004]
Senator Basham, under his constitutional right of protest (Art. 4, Sec. 18), protested against passage of Senate Bill No. 320 and moved that the statement he made during the discussion of the bill be printed as his reasons for voting "no."

The motion prevailed.

Senator Basham's statement is as follows:

I rise to oppose the passage of Senate Bill No. 320. This bill would expand the number of hours that a teenager is allowed to work in a given week. Currently, a teen is allowed to work 48 hours of combined school and work in any given week. This seems to be fair and even allows for a work-school combination in excess of the 40-hour work week. Of course, this doesn't account for their hours of extracurricular activities that many students participate in and the necessary studying.

This bill allows students to work up to 22 hours a week regardless of the number of hours spent in school. If a student spends 35 hours a week in school, plus 22 hours at work, this would equal 57 hours a week before we account for extracurricular activities, studying, and chores around the house.

We need to send the message loud and clear to students and to employers that their employees, while we value the real world experience that a part-time job can offer, a student's education is the No. 1 priority. There is a reason we put child labor laws in place, and it is because we know that children are vulnerable to the wishes of their employer and afraid to stand up when their employers ask them to work longer hours. So we need to reject this bill to protect the interest of our students and oppose Senate Bill No. 320.

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Received in the House on May 6, 2004. Passed in the House (75 to 31) on June 1, 2004. New Comment

1) Rep. Bieda's "no vote explanation" [by Admin003 on June 2, 2004]
Rep. Bieda, having reserved the right to explain his protest against the passage of the bill, made the following statement:

"Mr. Speaker and members of the House:

I voted no on SB 320, a bill to amend the Youth Employment Standards Act, to permit 16 or 17 year olds to work up to 22 hours a week when school is in session because of concerns that the number of hours students work will dramatically impact on their studies. Because I believe that education should come first, I voted no on SB 320."


Reply New Comment

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