SB 428 - This act governs the employment of children. New provisions are added to the law requiring a person who seeks to employ a child in the entertainment industry to apply for a work permit from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. The act establishes how long a child may be at the place of employment, the hours of the day in which the child may work, and how long the child may remain at the work place. Certain exemptions are provided but the employer must apply for approval of the Department in advance.

The current law allows children age fourteen to sixteen to obtain a work certificate and this act clarifies provisions governing such employment. A child may not be employed after 9 p.m. under this act, but may be employed until 10 p.m. under current law.

A person who violates Chapter 294, RSMo, may be civilly liable for damages of from $ 50 to $1,000 for each violation. Each day of violation and each child involved in the violation constitute separate offenses. Any moneys awarded shall be placed in the Child Labor Enforcement Fund which in created in the act. Moneys do not lapse to general revenue and shall, upon appropriation, be used by the Division of Labor Standards to enforce Chapter 294.

The Director may adopt rules to enforce Chapter 294 and such rules shall be subject to review by the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.

See Truly Agreed To SCS/HCS/HBs 300 & 95.
DAVID VALENTINE