HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – Two Pennsylvania lawmakers plan to propose a bill that would lower the legal driving age from 16 to 15.

In a memo to House colleagues, State Representatives Stephen Kinsey (D-Philadelphia) and Eric Nelson (R-Westmoreland) argue the current legal driving age prevents teens from working, saying it prohibits employment choices.

“I have a 16-year-old young driver, and he has a 15-year-old soon to be driver, and we were sharing the same struggles with, you know, young kids that are wanting to work but not able to drive to get there,” Rep. Nelson said.

The bill would lower the eligibility for a junior driver’s license to 15 and establish an age of eligibility of 15 for a learner’s permit.

“It lets them plug into the workforce sooner,” Nelson said. “Government should not be a roadblock for young people pursuing their opportunity.”

Nelson said his 16-year-old daughter is going through lifeguard training right now, along with her 15-year-old friend. He said her friend is hesitant to go through training because she will not have a way to get to work.

“You’re allowed to save somebody’s life, but you’re not allowed to get into a car and drive to the pool where you could work,” Nelson said.

No changes would be made to safety or training requirements that currently exist such as passenger limitations and nighttime driving restrictions.

“We require 65 hours of training, ten of those that night, five of them in hazardous conditions, and then they have to take a physical test; none of that will change,” Nelson said.

According to PennDOT, those with a junior driver’s license can not drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless their parent/guardian is with them, if the driver is involved in a public or charitable service, a volunteer fire company member, or is employed during those hours.

Drivers with a junior license also can not carry more than one passenger under 18 who is not a family member unless a parent is in the vehicle. After the first six months, the number of passengers increases to three.

The lawmakers say neighboring states such as West Virginia, Ohio, and Maryland have made changes to the minimum age to get a learner’s permit.

“Joining these states would mean more financial empowerment for Pennsylvania’s youth and more tax revenue for the state,” said the lawmakers.

Not everyone is on board with the lawmakers’ plan.

“I don’t agree that it should be changed. I agree with how it is now,” said Alan Lambert.

Lambert said even his 12-year-old grandson thinks this is a bad idea, particularly in the age of cellphones.

“I don’t know how many times just pulling in here, I saw somebody on their phone and they’re trying to turn,” he said.

Shannon Keppley has a 16-year-old daughter who has just started driving.

“I would think a year younger, she would not be ready,” she said.

Keppley recognizes the challenges the lawmakers cite with teens getting to and from her work. Her daughter works a part-time job.

“It’s challenging for me to get her to and from a part-time job as a mom that works full time,” Keppley said, but she added many places do not higher teens younger than 16.

Lambert said he thinks there are opportunities for kids to work without needing to drive.

“Most kids work half a mile from a McDonald’s, a Dunkin Donuts, a pizza shop,” he said.

A copy of the legislation was not immediately made available. Rep. Nelson told abc27 he and Rep. Kinsey hope to introduce the bill as soon as possible this session, but the House has been out of session for weeks, and Nelson said that has caused a backlog of legislation.