SB 349

Under the current child labor laws, subject to certain exceptions, a minor under

14 years of age may not be permitted to work at any gainful occupation and a minor

who is permitted to work must first obtain a permit authorizing the employment of

the minor (work permit). One of those exceptions permits a minor 12 years of age or

over to be employed without a work permit in and around a home in work usual to

the home of the employer, if the work is not in connection with or a part of the

business, trade, or profession of the employer and the type of employment is not

specifically prohibited by the child labor laws or by an order of the Department of

Workforce Development (DWD).

Currently, the child labor laws prohibit a minor from working at any hazardous

occupation; from working for such hours of the day or week, for such days of the week,

or during such hours of the day as may be dangerous or prejudicial to the life, health,

safety, or welfare of the minor; and from working during the hours that the minor is

required to attend school. To enforce those prohibitions, DWD has promulgated rules

classifying certain occupations as hazardous employment for minors, fixing the

maximum hours per day and per week and the maximum days per week that a minor

may work, and prohibiting minors from working before and after certain times of day.

This bill permits a minor to be employed without a work permit by a nonprofit

organization in and around the home of an elderly person or a person with a disability

to perform snow shoveling, lawn mowing, leaf raking, or other similar work usual to

the home of the elderly person or person with a disability, if the work is not in

connection with or a part of the business, trade, or profession of that person; the type

of employment is not specifically prohibited by the child labor laws or by an order of

DWD; the minor is paid the applicable state or federal minimum wage, whichever

is greater, for the work; and the minor's parent or guardian provides the nonprofit

organization with his or her written consent for the minor to perform the work.