BILL NUMBER: S8480
SPONSOR: HARCKHAM
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the labor law, in relation to the operation of amusement
devices
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill will amend the labor law in relation to the operation of
amusement devices.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the labor law to add a new section 870-p that states
that any amusement device may be operated by a trained operator at least
sixteen years of age.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Current law only allows amusement devices to be operated by trained
operators who are at least eighteen years old, while allowing that
amusement devices primarily designed for children may also be operated
by trained operators who are sixteen or seventeen years old. This law is
outdated, as almost all amusement devices are controlled by systems that
have safety features built in. Lowering the allowable age to sixteen for
all amusement devices will significantly expand the pool of eligible
employees for the many amusement parks and attractions in New York.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is a new bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.