A version of this column originally appeared in Michigan Advance.
Recently the Michigan League for Public Policy shared deep concerns about a bill that would put young workers in our state at risk by eliminating Michigan’s youth work permit system.
House Bill (HB) 5727 seeks to roll back a state system set to be implemented this year by the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) that will ensure employers know the law, protect children from exploitative work and aid in enforcement when violations of the state’s Youth Employment Standards Act (YESA) occur. HB 5727 seeks to replace this system with a weaker age verification system that would essentially be up to employers to implement and would do next to nothing to ensure child workers are protected beyond ensuring they are of age to work.
Research has shown states with work permit requirements see 17% fewer child labor violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and 43% fewer children involved in those violations. Michigan is one of 35 states in the U.S. that already have work permit systems; however, HB 5727 would stop this much-needed system from being implemented, thus removing important protections for child workers. It would also be a disservice to employers who want to follow the law as centralized work permit systems allow states to more proactively inform employers of rules they need to follow when hiring workers under the age of 18.
The bill would also eliminate LEO’s ability to revoke a work permit if a child is not in good standing in school due to a job. This would hamstring a school’s capacity to deal with issues like chronic absenteeism, failing grades and disciplinary issues. The proposal comes at a time when Michigan, once again, ranks nationally in the bottom 10 states in education at 42nd according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book, which was released just this past Monday.
The latest national KIDS COUNT data also shows that 17% of Michigan high school students did not graduate on time in 2024, which is an improvement over 2019 but remains worse than the national average. Students who do not graduate on time are less likely to continue on to postsecondary education and training, which can inhibit their future success in the job market, including their earning capacity.
And it’s not just academic performance that suffers when child labor is not well regulated. Excessive and late-night work hours, for example, can put youth mental and physical health at risk as it often leads to reduced sleep and increased odds for workplace injuries. Teens need more sleep than adults — eight to 10 hours a night on average — but on the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey over 80% of high school students in Michigan reported getting fewer than eight hours a night. Giving LEO oversight of the state’s work permit system protects children from exploitative child labor that can harm their physical and mental well-being.
HB 5727 is also coming at a time when the U.S. is facing a national child labor crisis, with child labor violations and attacks on state child labor laws on the rise. During fiscal year 2024-2025, the number of federal child labor violations uncovered were the highest they have been since the Great Recession. Meanwhile, according to the Economic Policy Institute, at least 13 states — including Michigan — have introduced bills weakening child labor protections so far this year and four states have enacted them. Eliminating Michigan’s work permit system at a time when child labor violations are on the rise defies common sense and undermines the commitment of employers who do seek to follow the law when giving young people opportunities for work experience.
Michigan children and families deserve better. They deserve reasoned, strong policies that both support good jobs and protect quality education. We at the League supported the legislation that was passed by the Michigan Legislature back in 2024 to centralize the state’s youth work permit system within LEO. It is our hope that its implementation this fall will provide better protections for our state’s youth.
Betsy Zobl-Tar 
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
