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Lawmakers Want To Let Some Ohio Teens Work Later On School Nights

 A Now Hiring sign is seen in the window of the 5th Avenue Deli and Grill, Friday, June 4, 2021, in Mayfield Heights, Ohio as a man walks into the restaurant.
Tonk DeJak
/
AP
A Now Hiring sign is seen in the window of the 5th Avenue Deli and Grill, Friday, June 4, 2021, in Mayfield Heights, Ohio as a man walks into the restaurant.

A bipartisan bill in the Ohio Senate would allow some teenagers to work later on a night prior to going to school the next morning.

The bill would allow 14- and 15-year-olds to work until 9 p.m. on a school night.

Current law states those teenagers have to stop working at 7 p.m. when they have school the next day.

Sen. Tina Maharath (D-Canal Winchester) said the bill, SB251, requires approval by parents.

"They're still not able to work and go to school and work more than 40 hours a week so this is something that will be manageable for the individuals as students, but also the parents as well to be able to have control of what their kids are doing after school," says Maharath.

The senator said different business groups, including the Ohio Restaurant Association, are behind the bill.

She notes the service industry has struggled to find workers, forcing some shops to close earlier in the day than usual.

Copyright 2021 The Statehouse News Bureau. To see more, visit The Statehouse News Bureau.

Andy Chow is a general assignment state government reporter who focuses on environmental, energy, agriculture, and education-related issues. He started his journalism career as an associate producer with ABC 6/FOX 28 in Columbus before becoming a producer with WBNS 10TV.