Bill Text: MO HCR59 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Opposes the proposed United States Department of Labor regulations which would prohibit certain youth agricultural labor and employment
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-05-18 - Referred: General Laws (H) [HCR59 Detail]
Download: Missouri-2012-HCR59-Introduced.html
SECOND REGULAR SESSION
House Concurrent Resolution No. 59
96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES SCHATZ (Sponsor), CURTMAN, SMITH (150), CAUTHORN, HOUGH, THOMSON, RUZICKA, ELMER, KORMAN, LOEHNER, WELLS, ROWLAND, BERNSKOETTER, NANCE, SOMMER, HAMPTON, ENTLICHER, JOHNSON, REDMON, KLIPPENSTEIN, BRATTIN, BURLISON, WHITE, WIELAND, DAVIS, FISHER, HOUGHTON, FREDERICK, McCAHERTY, REIBOLDT, LANT, FRAKER, HAEFNER, LASATER, PARKINSON, FITZWATER, CONWAY (14), ASBURY, NETH, WRIGHT AND DUGGER (Co-sponsors).
WHEREAS, the federal Fair Standard and Labor Act requires the United States Department of Labor to protect the occupational health and welfare of youths and to prevent their exploitation; and
WHEREAS, significant technological changes have taken place in agriculture since the United States Department of Labor last addressed youth agriculture labor provisions, which are incumbent upon the United States Department of Labor to periodically review as a function of carrying out its responsibilities to protect youth; and
WHEREAS, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, 98% of domestic farms are defined as family farms and 96.7% of these are defined as small businesses according to the United States Small Business Administration's size standards; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Labor proposes regulations which would prohibit youth from working with certain livestock older than six months of age and herding animals in confined spaces or on horseback; and
WHEREAS, the proposed federal regulations would prohibit youth from performing any task in which they handle pesticides, regardless of the pesticides toxicity; and
WHEREAS, the proposed federal regulations would prohibit youth from working on a ladder or scaffolding that exceeds six feet elevation; and
WHEREAS, the proposed federal regulations would prohibit youth from the use of electronic devises when operating machinery, precluding youth from operating farm equipment with integrated systems and including those that enhance the safety of the equipment; and
WHEREAS, the proposed federal regulations would prohibit youth from working in occupations in farm-product raw material wholesale trade industries, such as grain elevators, feed lots, stockyards, and livestock auctions; and
WHEREAS, the Missouri General Assembly has a duty and obligation to protect the legal rights of parents to make decisions regarding their children in any employment situation, including their child's participation in agricultural labor; and
WHEREAS, our youth should not be prohibited from using their skills to engage in agricultural employment which would allow them to earn and save money for their educational expenses for college and trade schools; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Labor should not create any federal youth program which would replace or eliminate current successful youth programs such as the 4-H program, Future Farmers of America programs, and other similar youth and agricultural-based programs; and
WHEREAS, the State of Missouri takes a firm and unwavering stand against any federal law or regulation designed to prohibit or unfairly restrict our Missouri youth from engaging in agricultural work and infringe on the rights of parents to make these determinations for their children:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-sixth General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby declare Missouri's firm and unwavering opposition to the recent proposed federal regulations which would unfairly restrict and infringe on the rights of our youth to engage in safe agricultural labor and employment; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Missouri General Assembly strongly affirms the right of each state and the parents of our youth to be free from infringement by the federal government into the lives and affairs of the states and parents in areas which are not expressly provided to the federal government; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Missouri General Assembly strongly urges and encourages the members of the Missouri Congressional delegation to express their opposition to the proposed Department of Labor regulation which would severely and unfairly prohibit our youth from engaging in agricultural labor; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare properly inscribed copies of this resolution for Hilda L. Solis, Secretary of the United States Department of Labor, and each member of the Missouri Congressional delegation.
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