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16 and 17-year-olds no longer need to obtain a work permit from their school board to obtain a part-time job. Governor Landry has signed House Bill 232 into law, removing a lot of the red tape that those teens had to go through in order to be able to work. The author of the legislation, Lafayette Republican Josh Carlson, says it was also a very cumbersome task for schools as well.
“They had to do this for every minor in public school, private school, charter school, home school. And it was a lot, just to be able to maintain and keep these records and have a number of people staffed in this office to facilitate the work permits,” Carlson explained.
Carlson says the old system actually prevented some minors from being able to work.
“It created a barrier to entry for minors, because many wanted to get a job over the Christmas holidays. But the school board office was closed, so they couldn’t go and get a work permit,” Carlson said.
Carlson’s bill removes the government from the process altogether.
“I decided, the easiest way to do that would just be, the parent is ultimately the one I believe who should be responsible and make the decision if their child works, not the school system,” Carlson said.
All other laws governing the employment of 16 and 17-year-olds, including the number of hours they can work per day and per week and the time frame in which they’re allowed to work, remain unchanged. The new law became effective upon Governor Landry’s signature.
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