A first-year state representative just made it through her first legislative funnel. District 37’s Barb Kniff McCulla has been working on several bills in committees and subcommittees for the past several weeks on legislation focused on workforce and health care.

A bill of focus for Kniff McCulla has been a much-discussed round of changes that would expand the types of work minors can perform, and in her weekly newsletter, the representative wrote about several key points:

House Study Bill 134 makes the following changes for work activities for those under 18 years of age:
o Adds work activities for 14-year-olds, including using a microwave, loading and unloading vehicles, using kitchen cleaning products, and laundering.
o Adds minimal work activities for 15-year-olds.
o Extends the timeframe for persons under 16 to work to 9 p.m. or 11 p.m. depending on the time of year.
o Makes changes to the work prohibitions for 16 and 17-year-olds (Section 9), by adding performance of light assembly work not near machines, allowing driving a vehicle, office work and loading balers.
o Makes changes to work-based learning programs.
o Allows the labor commissioner to waive or reduce a civil penalty based on the evidence, and may allow for a 15-day grace period before imposing a civil penalty.
o Clarifies liability of students in work-based learning programs driving to and from work (in a coming amendment).
o Allows a retail alcohol licensee to employ a 16 or 17-year-old to sell and serve alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption if the licensee has on file written permission from the parent.
o Allows a minor licensee to drive their vehicle between 5am and 10pm, during work hours, over the most direct and accessible route between the minor’s residence, school, and employment, as long as it is below 50 miles.

Opponents to the measure are concerned for the safety of individuals under 18 working in certain environments and have criticized supporters as using young people to solve a workforce shortage.

Hear more about the latest in the Iowa Legislative Session on today’s Let’s Talk Pella.