On behalf of the Michigan League for Public Policy, I thank Chair Schuette and members of the Committee on Rules for the opportunity to express our opposition to House Bill 5727. The proposed legislation would undo the positive changes to the Youth Employment Standards Act (YESA) made by Public Act 196 of 2024. The League is a nonpartisan research and advocacy organization that promotes economic opportunity for all and analyzes the impact of public policy on the lives of Michiganders who have been systemically left out of prosperity. The League is also the state’s Kids Count organization, working as part of a national effort to measure the well-being of children at the state and local levels and to shape efforts that improve their lives. The H-4 substitution of HB 5727 aligns with federal labor law. We appreciate the bill sponsor’s efforts to ensure HB 5727 does not encourage activities that violate federal law by removing discrepancies dealing with working hours and hazardous work. Maintaining state legislation consistent with Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) rules on child labor is good for the health and well-being of children, just as it is good for employers who want clear guidance on their obligations when hiring minors. Despite these improvements, the remaining provisions still take our youth employment standards backwards. Eliminating Michigan’s youth work permit system will put child workers at risk. State systems for documenting youth employment through the issuance of work permits are effective at ensuring young people can gain valuable work experience while preventing child labor violations. Research has shown states with work permit requirements see 17% fewer child labor violations under the FLSA and 43% fewer children involved in those violations. 1 A centralized system for work permits enables more effective enforcement of child labor law. From 2020 to 2025, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) identified over 1,200 child labor violations and issued corrective action notices to these employers during investigations into YESA complaints. 2 Work permits also allow the department to proactively inform employers of regulations. In this way, work permits are good for employers, who want to follow the law, and for parents, who seek to be informed of their child’s rights in the workplace. The proposed legislation will undermine efforts to improve educational outcomes. HB 5727 strips LEO’s ability to revoke work authorization based on school performance, allowing a student to continue working even if they are chronically absent, falling behind academically or exhibiting disciplinary issues. According to the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book, Michigan falls in the bottom 10 states for educational outcomes. 3 If we want students to graduate on-time and college-ready, lawmakers should not limit the ability of schools to respond when work is creating disciplinary, attendance, and academic performance issues. We as a state can enable positive first work experiences that set young people up with the skills, training and confidence they need for career success, but that should not come at the expense of educational attainment. We ask the committee to preserve the Youth Employment Standards Act and reject these changes that will put child workers at risk and undermine efforts to improve educational outcomes. If we value the lives and well-being of all children and want them to have positive first work experiences, then our laws need to reflect those values.
1 Fred (Jiacong) Bao and Ashish Kabra, “State Mandated mployment Certificate for Minors Reduces Child Labor Violations in the US, ” June 7, 2024, https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4857432.
2 Special data request through the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity.
3 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book (Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2026),https://www.aecf.org/resources/2026-kids-count-data-book.
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.
