This bill proposes amendments to the Code of West Virginia regarding child labor laws, specifically targeting the employment of children aged 14 and 15. It repeals the existing requirement for these minors to obtain a work permit and instead mandates that employers seeking to hire children aged 14 or older must obtain an age certificate from the State Commissioner of Labor. The bill grants the commissioner the authority to issue these age certificates, which will serve as proof of age for the child, and establishes penalties for individuals who issue age certificates in violation of the law.

Key changes include the removal of the work permit requirement for 14 and 15-year-olds, the introduction of a new process for obtaining age certificates, and the specification that the issuance of these certificates will be supervised by the State Commissioner of Labor. Additionally, the bill allows for inquiries into the ages of children employed and provides for the revocation of age certificates if they are found to have been improperly issued. The penalties for violations of these provisions include fines and potential jail time for repeat offenders.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 21-6-5, 21-6-8, 21-6-10, 21-6-3