COLUMBUS, Ohio - Gov. Mike DeWine on Wednesday vetoed legislation that would have allowed 14- and 15-year-olds to work later into the evening on school nights.

Senate Bill 50 sought to amend state labor laws to permit teens under 16 to work until 9 p.m. on days preceding school days, provided they had approval from a parent or legal guardian. Current Ohio law requires work for this age group to end by 7 p.m. when school is in session the following day.

In his veto message, DeWine stated that extending the hours would interfere with students' education.

"I believe it unwise to provide for 14- and 15-year-olds to work, on a school night, that late at night," DeWine wrote. "I see no compelling reason to deviate from current law."

The governor noted that state regulations already allow 14- and 15-year-olds to work until 9 p.m. during summer months and school breaks lasting five days or longer, such as winter and spring breaks. Older teenagers, aged 16 and 17, are already permitted to work until 9 p.m. on school nights under existing statutes.

The vetoed bill would have required the director of commerce to create a minor work hour notification form for parents to sign, acknowledging the extended schedule.

DeWine said the current 7 p.m. restriction during the school week "effectively balanced" the need for young people to learn job skills with the necessity of having time to study.

"Learning to work is an essential part of growing up," DeWine stated. "However, the only thing at issue here is whether, for 14- and 15-year-olds, during the school week, the time when work must cease is 7 p.m. or 9 p.m.".