HB 587, HCA 1 -- CHILD LABOR

CO-SPONSORS:  Wagner, Hosmer, Bartelsmeyer

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Labor by
a vote of 14 to 0.

This bill revises provisions pertaining to the Child Labor
Laws.  The bill:

(1)  Deletes part-time employment with the consent of a parent
from the definition "employ" in the Child Labor Law;

(2)  Removes the provision authorizing the Director of the
Division of Labor Standards to grant an exemption to a child
aged 14 years but under 16 years which allows a child to be
employed during the school term;

(3)  Requires that the waiver pertaining to work hours and work
days as contained in Section 294.030, RSMo, exempts only
employment contained in Section 294.022;

(4)  Authorizes the "regional fair exception" not to apply to
entities covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act when a child
aged 14 years but under 16 years of age is employed at a
regional fair from June 1 to Labor Day;

(5)  Increases the age of a person employed in street
occupations as contained in Section 294.043, from 16 years to 18
years of age.  The requirement that an employer receive written
permission from the director is removed;

(6)  Requires every employer, subject to Chapter 294, to produce
and maintain a record of employment for a child for a period of
2 years.  The records and information pertaining to minors which
are obtained by the division will be confidential and disclosed
only on order by a court of competent jurisdiction; and

(7)  Allows the director to consider the size of the business
and the absence of specified factors when determining the
appropriate civil damages against a person, firm, or corporation
that violates any provision contained in Chapter 294.

HCA 1 -- Removes Section 294.043 from the bill, thus leaving the
minimum age for persons employed in street occupations at its
current level of 16 years, or younger if written permission from
the director is received.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill is necessary to make
Missouri's child labor laws consistent with federal law and to
clarify the so-called "regional fair exception" for children
working at certain limited-time carnivals.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Wagner; and Colleen
Baker, Director of the Division of Labor Standards.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Greg Linhares, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated November 26, 2001 at 11:44 am