2021 -- S 0322

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LC001233

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN AND

CHILDREN

     Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Ciccone, and Lawson

     Date Introduced: February 18, 2021

     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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