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Legislation to remove the required 30-minute meal period for minors who work five or more hours advances from the House Labor Committee. Bill author, Denham Springs Representative Roger Wilder said of the businesses he owns in Louisiana, the required break forces his employees who want to work to lose 30 minutes of pay.
“Not many people want to work right now and the ones that do we’re just telling them to sit down and forfeit a big chunk of their paycheck when they don’t want to,” said Wilder.
Shreveport Representative Tammy Phelps questioned Wilder if he considers a 16 or 17-year-old a young adult. He countered that the emancipation age is 16, and you’re allowed to marry at age 16.
“You’re allowed to drive at 16, those are all adult actions,” said Wilder.
“With consent, with parental consent,” said Phelps.
“Absolutely but you also have parental consent when they have to sign a work permit for a 16 or 17-year-old to work,” Wilder stated.
“That’s why they’re a minor,” Phelps responded.
Haughton Representative Dodie Horton supports the bill because she wants to ensure the state allows private businesses to operate as they see fit.
“And it’s up to us as parents or our guardians to choose if we feel that our children are being taken advantage of or not and because like you said we have help wanted signs all over,” said Horton.
The bill passed with a 10 to 2 vote and advances to the House.
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