ST. PAUL, MN – Yesterday, State Representative Mary Murphy (DFL – Hermantown) presented a bill to the House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee that would prohibit high school students from working past 11 p.m. and before 5 a.m. on school nights and mornings. Although a current law is in place prohibiting students 17 and younger from working past 11 p.m. on school nights, child labor laws do not apply for students who are 18 or older.
Becky Brenna, a Proctor mother of an 18 year old high school student and constituent of Rep. Murphy, testified before the committee that a fix to the current state law is needed. Her son, Cole Brenna was hired part-time at a local retail store, but soon after he began the job, he was working until 12:30 a.m. four to five times a week.
“They can’t do that, you’re in high school,” Brenna said to her son. After doing some research on child labor laws in Minnesota, Brenna learned that the current law only prohibits students age 17 and younger from working past 11 p.m. on school nights. She then contacted her state elected officials.
“We need to fix this glitch in the current law,” said Rep. Mary Murphy.
HF 701 passed out of the committee and now awaits a hearing on the House Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance Committee.
Rep. Mary Murphy’s constituents may contact her at 651-296-2676 or 800-890-5428 or by email at rep.mary.murphy@house.mn.
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