HB 49: Employment and Curfew of Minors
Florida authorizes cities and counties to enact their own curfew ordinances for minors under the age of 16. The law provides that any minor under the age of 16 cannot be present at a public establishment during the following hours, not including legal holidays:
- Sunday to Thursday from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
- Saturday or Sunday from 12:01 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. if suspended from school.
Effective Changes
This bill:
- Removes restrictions concerning the number of work hours per day and per week for minors 16 and 17 years-of-age, and specifies that minors 16 and 17 years-of-age may work the same number of hours as a person who is 18 years-of-age or older.
- Revises the times of day in which minors 16 and 17 years-of-age may work.
- Limits the restriction that currently prohibits 16- and 17-year-olds from working more than 6 consecutive days in any one week, or working 4 hours continuously without a break of at least 30 minutes for a meal period to only apply to minors age 15 or younger.
- Requires 16- and 17-year-olds to be granted breaks and meal periods in the same manner as employees who are 18 years of age or older.
- Requires juvenile curfews adopted by county or municipal ordinance to include certain exceptions.
*The statutory curfew does not apply unless the curfew is adopted by a governing body of the county or municipality.
*A governing body of a county or municipality is allowed to adopt restrictions that are more or less stringent than the statutory curfew.
Status: Bill Passed on March 8, 2024.