Hawaii Senate Bill SCR127

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/8/24
• Refer: 3/14/24

Caption

Ratifying A Proposed Amendment To The Constitution Of The United States Giving The Congress Of The United States Power To Limit, Regulate, And Prohibit The Labor Of Persons Under Eighteen Years Of Age.

Impact

If ratified, SCR127 would contribute to the broader federal framework governing child labor laws, potentially enhancing the legal mechanisms available to address the welfare of minors in the workforce. Current regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 provide a baseline for child labor laws, but the proposed amendment would empower Congress to enact more stringent measures across all states. As a result, this could lead to increased protections for children and ensure that labor practices involving minors are strictly regulated and monitored.

Summary

SCR127 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution from Hawaii which aims to ratify a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution granting Congress the authority to limit, regulate, and prohibit the labor of individuals under the age of eighteen. This initiative seeks to address concerns about the historical challenges associated with child labor in the United States, a problem highlighted as far back as the early 1900s when approximately two million children were found to be in the labor force. The resolution is a response to ongoing discussions about children's rights and the safeguarding of youth in the labor market.

Contention

Despite the bill’s supportive goals, there has been historical contention surrounding the proposed amendment, particularly its initial failure to garner sufficient state support for ratification after it was first introduced in 1924. Ratification attempts stalled due to opposition based on states' rights arguments, as well as accusations that the amendment was an attempt to expand federal power unduly. Hawaii, as a state that has not previously acted on the amendment, stands at a crossroads to either support this federal initiative or maintain its distance from national labor reforms.