Resolution Ratifying The Proposed Amendment To The Constitution Of The United States Permitting Congress To Regulate Child Labor.
Summary
House Joint Resolution 48 is a ratification resolution for a long-pending proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would give Congress power to limit, regulate, and prohibit the labor of persons under 18 years of age. The resolution recites the history of the amendment, originally proposed by Congress in 1924, and notes that it remains outstanding because no ratification deadline was set. It also states that Connecticut rejected the amendment in 1925 and that the current General Assembly seeks to reverse that earlier decision.
If adopted, the resolution would not directly change Connecticut statutes governing child labor, but it would add Connecticut’s ratification to the constitutional amendment process and help move the federal amendment closer to the threshold needed for adoption. The resolution directs the Governor to transmit certified copies to federal officials and Connecticut’s congressional delegation, reflecting its role as a formal state action in the Article V amendment process rather than ordinary substantive legislation.
The overall sentiment in the available record appears supportive, as the bill received a Joint Favorable recommendation from the Government Administration and Elections Committee by a 14-5 vote. That vote suggests majority backing, though not unanimity, for ratifying the amendment.
The main point of contention is the underlying policy question of whether Congress should have constitutional authority over child labor regulation, and whether Connecticut should now reverse its 1925 rejection. Supporters likely view the resolution as a corrective measure aligned with modern child labor protections, while opponents may object to expanding federal power or to revisiting a century-old ratification decision. No committee transcript is available, so the specific arguments of individual members are not recorded in the provided materials.
Impact
The resolution would affect the federal constitutional amendment process rather than Connecticut’s existing child labor statutes. By ratifying the proposed amendment, Connecticut would join the states supporting an Article V amendment that would authorize Congress to regulate child labor, potentially preempting state law to the extent necessary if the amendment were ultimately adopted. It would also formally notify federal officials of the state’s ratification.
Sentiment
The available voting history indicates generally favorable sentiment toward the resolution, with the Government Administration and Elections Committee reporting it Joint Favorable by a 14-5 vote. That suggests a clear majority supported ratification, though a meaningful minority opposed it. No transcript is available, so the record does not show detailed debate, but the bill’s framing as correcting a prior rejection implies a supportive posture among proponents.
Contention
The central contention is the balance between federal and state authority over child labor regulation. Supporters favor ratifying the amendment as a way to strengthen national child labor protections and correct Connecticut’s 1925 rejection, while opponents may resist expanding Congress’s constitutional power or object to ratifying a long-dormant amendment. The 14-5 committee vote shows that the issue was not unanimous, indicating some disagreement over both the policy and the symbolic decision to revisit the earlier ratification failure.