05/02/2002 04:22 PM Senate FIN

                                                                                                                                
     CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 128(L&C)(efd add)                                                                                    
     "An Act relating to the required approval of the commissioner                                                              
     of labor and workforce development for the employment of                                                                   
     certain minors; and providing for an effective date."                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This was  the second  hearing for  this bill in  the Senate  Finance                                                            
Committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Amendment #1:  This amendment provides  that a written consent  must                                                            
be  signed before  a  minor begins  work.  The amended  language  to                                                            
Section 2,  on page 2 lines  16 and 17 of  the committee  substitute                                                            
reads as follows.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
                (5) must be signed by a parent or legal guardian of                                                             
     the minor before the date the minor begins working the job                                                                 
     specified in the consent.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Austerman reminded  the Committee  of a  concern he  voiced                                                            
during  the previous  hearing  on this  bill that  this legislation                                                             
would allow a minor of  a certain age to work without the permission                                                            
of a parent. He  noted this amendment addresses this  concern and he                                                            
moved for adoption.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Senator Green  relayed a conversation  she had "with the  person who                                                            
requested  this legislation"  where  she learned  the  issue is  not                                                            
minors  attempting   to  gain  employment  against  their   parents'                                                            
direction.  She stated that the farmer  she spoke with informed  her                                                            
that  he has  had to  deny employment  to  minors  because of  legal                                                            
restrictions.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Green  suggested  allowing  a  grace  period  between  when                                                            
employment  begins  and when  a parental  consent  is required.  She                                                            
explained this  would be beneficial in the event a  parent is out of                                                            
town.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Ward commented  that  many businesses  do  not hire  people                                                            
under  the age  of  14, which  he  asserted  is wrong.  However,  he                                                            
understood  the  "hassle"  involved  in  hiring  young  workers.  He                                                            
surmised this  amendment and this  legislation would eliminate  some                                                            
of the  difficulties.  He noted  this amendment  allows a  seven-day                                                            
grace period between  the start of employment and  submission of the                                                            
necessary  documents  to  the  Department  of  Labor  and  Workforce                                                            
Development.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
AT EASE 4:56 PM / 5:01 PM                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
The amendment was ADOPTED without objection.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Ward  "moved  House  Bill  number  128 as  amended  out  of                                                            
Committee with  individual recommendations  and accompanying  note."                                                            
                                                                                                                                
There was  no objection and  SCS CS HB 128  (FIN) with accompanying                                                             
$22,500 fiscal  note #1 from the Department  of Labor and  Workforce                                                            
Development MOVED from Committee.