Legislation, introduced by Senator Cory Tomczyk (Mosinee) and Representative Clint Moses (Menomonie), has been approved by the Senate 21-11, and also by the Assembly 62-34.

Senate Bill 436 would remove the requirement that all 14 and 15 year olds must first obtain a work permit before obtaining employment.

According to current law, individuals 14 and 15 years old must first obtain a work permit or street trade permit issued by their school before they are allowed to join the workforce.

The legislation would not impact workforce safety standards for 14 and 15 year olds nor would it repeal employer record keeping, maximum work hours, and time of day or eliminate school attendance requirements necessary to be employed.

Representative Moses urged his colleagues to support passage, “This is government red tape and bureaucracy that is just unnecessary.  If a teenager wants a job, they should be able to apply for a job and start working.  They shouldn’t need the approval of their school and state to obtain a job.”

The Department of Workforce Development, however, expressed concern over the legislation’s impact on funding needed by the agency for employer education and enforcement of compliance with child labor law.

The agency said, “The bill is anticipated to reduce education and outreach interactions with employers, employees, and their guardians, which would increase the number of investigations by the Equal Rights Division.”

NFIB supported passage and is urging the Governor to sign Senate Bill 436 into law.  NFIB members are urged to contact Governor Evers to request he sign Senate Bill 436 into law.