Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine vetoes bill that would have let 14, 15 year olds work till 9 p.m. year-round

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has vetoed a bill that would have allowed Ohio teenagers 14 and 15 years old to work till 9 p.m. throughout the year. 

DeWine vetoed Ohio Senate Bill 50 Wednesday night. Lawmakers would need a three-fifths vote from each chamber to override the veto.

The Ohio Senate passed the bill with a party line vote earlier this year and the Ohio House passed the bill last month. 

“I believe it unwise to provide for 14- and 15-year-olds to work, on a school night, that late at night,” DeWine said in his veto message. “I see no compelling reason to deviate from current law.” 

Ohio law currently allows 14 and 15 year olds to work till 9 p.m. during the summer or during a school holiday, meaning they are not able to work past 7 p.m. on school nights.

“I believe the current law has served us well and has effectively balanced the importance of 14- and 15-year-old children learning to work, with the importance of them having time to study,” DeWine said in his veto message. 

Ohio is unable to change the law without the federal government making changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.

Ohio lawmakers also passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 3 which urges Congress to alter the Fair Labor Standards Act to let a teenager younger than 16 work between 7-9 p.m. during the school year if the teenager has their parent or guardian’s permission. 

“Learning to work is an essential part of growing up,” DeWine said in his veto message. “Businesses across Ohio each day give young people the opportunity to learn the so-called soft skills that will serve them well when they become adults.” 

Ohio Sen. Tim Schaffer, R-Lancaster, introduced both Senate Bill 50 and the Senate Concurrent Resolution, which says 14 and 15 year olds would need approval from a parent or guardian to work till 9 p.m.

Ohio businesses can pay 14 and 15 year olds the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, which is less than the state’s minimum wage of $10.70 per hour, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce.  

The Ohio Restaurant and Hospitality Alliance is in favor of the bill while the Children’s Defense Fund of Ohio opposes it. 

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This story is republished from the Ohio Capital Journal. View the original article.