HB 2523 “Youth Employment” was introduced into the Arizona House by Rep Grantham as the only Sponsor of the bill.The bill passed the Regulatory Affairs Committee February 11, 2019 with Party Lines, Republican lawmakers Rep. Blackman, Rep. Toma, Rep. Roberts, and Rep. Grantham all in support of the bill.  The bill then moved to the Rules committee where it also passed in strong support of 5-3 party lines. 

This bill allows an employer to pay a wage equal to the federal minimum wage if the employee is under 22 year of age, enrolled as a full-time student, and a student who does not work more than 20 hours per week.  

ASA is in strong opposition of this bill because it will directly impact University and Community College Students. Students are already drowning in student debt. This will cause students to take out more students loans and will also lead to many students having to drop out of college. 

This bill is almost cutting student wages in half form $11/hour to $7.25/hour. Many part time and full time jobs for students are to pay for rent and be able to eat.  This bill will make it harder for student to even survive college and would force some students to have to drop out of school.