2019 -- S 0173

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LC000718

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN AND

CHILDREN

     Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Pearson, Lawson, and Ciccone

     Date Introduced: January 24, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 28-3-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-3 entitled "Employment

of Women and Children" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     28-3-3. Issuance of limited permits for work by children.

     (a) The school committee of each city or town, or any person that the school committee

may designate, may issue for any child who has completed fourteen (14) years of age and has

successfully completed a workers' rights training program established by subsection (b) of this

section a special limited permit to work, permitting the employment of the child on days on

which schools are not in session, and on school days at hours in which schools are not in session,

at any legal employment and subject to the requirements of law limiting the employment of

children, but not for employment in factories or in mechanical or manufacturing establishments.

The permits to work shall be uniform throughout the state, and the permit to work form shall be

prescribed and provided by the department of labor and training. A child must certify to the

department that they have successfully completed a training program created by the department

which would include worker rights, workplace health and safety, and workers compensation

before a permit can be issued. The content cost and funding for this training program shall be

implemented by way of rules and regulations promulgated by the department of labor and

training. The school committee of each city or town, or any person that the school committee may

designate to issue the permits to work provided for in this section, shall keep on file a copy of

each permit to work granted, together with the evidence on which the permit to work was granted.

     (b) The department of labor and training shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary

to establish a training program, funded by the department, for those children seeking a work

permit under this section. The goal of the program shall be to educate children of their legal

workers' rights and protections including, but not limited to, the provisions of this chapter.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN AND

CHILDREN

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     This act would require children who seek a special limited work permit to successfully

complete a worker rights' training program established and funded by the department of labor and

training.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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