Hicks-Hudson Statement on Senate Votes

Today, state Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) voted against three pieces of legislation brought to the Ohio Senate floor:

• Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 would urge the United States Congress to change the Fair Labor Standards Act to allow a person under 16 years old to be employed between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. during the school year with the approval of their parent or guardian.
• Senate Bill 30 would allow people under the age of 16 to be employed between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. during the school year, if the person has approval to do so from the person’s parent or legal guardian.
• Senate Bill 17 would require the State Board of Education to incorporate academic concepts of free market capitalism into the standards and model curriculum for financial literacy and entrepreneurship for grades nine through twelve.

“Granting employers the ability to have minors work well into the night would do a disservice to our youth,” Senator Hicks-Hudson said of S.C.R. 2 and S.B. 30. “Children need time to pursue their education, extracurricular activities, and personal growth. Proponents of the bill have framed it as a remedy to the workforce shortage, but this problem will not be solved on the backs of our children. We must prioritize their well-being and development over short-term economic gain, and ensure that they have the opportunity to thrive in all aspects of their lives.”

Regarding S.B. 17, Senator Hicks-Hudson stated, “This bill is a solution in search of a problem. It prescribes educational material in a manner unlike anything else on the books and takes decisions away from experts and teachers. Financial literacy classes should focus on equipping our youth with the skills and knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their personal finances and navigate the complexities of our modern economy, not as a platform to promote an economic ideology. We owe it to our future generations to provide them with a comprehensive education that prepares them for the diverse economic landscape of the 21st century.”