O'Fallon state rep wants to change Missouri child labor law

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Labor laws for teenagers might be getting a tweak this week as a piece of legislation makes its way through the Missouri House.

Missouri State Rep. Dave Hinman(R - O'Fallon) would like to loosen restrictions that force children between the age of 14-16 to get permission from both their parents AND schools to work.

"I think this law went into effect in 1957. So after 67 years, I think it's time to take a look at it and see what changes can be made," Hinman said on Total Information A.M. Tuesday.

Currently for high school kids in the age of 14-16 to work, they are required to get permission from both their parents and the school district on working. But Hinman says in his legislation, the only permission that would be required is from the parents.

"I think it is a much better proposal to have a permission slip that is signed by the parents," said Hinman. "I just feel it's better for the parents to make that decision on whether or not your child should be able to be employed at 15 or 16 years old."

Hinman says the next step for his legislation will be to put it on the house calendar, which means it could be brought up at any time over the next three weeks for discussion on the floor.

While Hinman says he has doubts the bill has a ton of priority due to how hectic the last three weeks of session in the Missouri House is but he says the discussion is needed on the House floor.

"I think it's important to have this discussion on the floor to see what the thoughts are from both sides of the aisle, to see if there are ways to improve this bill," said Hinman.