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The Senate as soon as Thursday could send back to the House a controversial bill that would loosen work restrictions for 16- and 17-year-olds.
The House passed the bill (HB 49) on Feb. 1, but the Senate has made changes.
The legislative session is scheduled to end Friday.
“I believe that what we have before us is balanced and fair and smart and safe,” Senate sponsor Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, said of the Senate changes.
The most-notable difference is that the House version would have eliminated a restriction on 16- and 17-year-olds working more than 30 hours during weeks when school is in session.
The Senate changes would maintain the 30-hour limit, but it would allow parents or guardians or school superintendents to waive the limit.
Also, the House version would have removed a restriction on 16- and 17-year-olds working more than eight hours a day when school is scheduled the next day.
The Senate changes would only allow the teens to work more than eight hours on holidays and Sundays.
The Senate took up the bill on Wednesday, positioning it for a vote as soon as Thursday.
If approved, the measure then would go back to the House for another vote.
