SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 6305

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE, FEBRUARY 4, 1994

Brief Description:  Revising the process for obtaining a variance from the minor employment law.

SPONSORS: Senators Snyder, Skratek, Roach, Nelson, Loveland, West, Winsley and M. Rasmussen

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6305 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Moore, Chairman; Prentice, Vice Chairman; Deccio, Fraser, McAuliffe, Pelz, Prince, Sellar, Sutherland, Vognild and Wojahn.

Staff:  Jonathan Seib (786‑7427)

Hearing Dates: February 3, 1994; February 4, 1994

BACKGROUND:

Current law provides that any person who employs a person under the age of 14 in any outside employment not connected with farm or house work without permission of a superior court judge is guilty of a misdemeanor.

SUMMARY:

Any person who employs a person under the age of 14 in any outside employment not connected with farm or house work without a written permit is guilty of a misdemeanor.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

An exemption from the law restricting the employment of minors under 14 is provided for children employed as actors or performers in film, video, audio, or theatrical productions.

For all minors employed as actors or performers in film, video, audio, or theatrical productions, the Department of Labor and Industries is directed to issue a permit and variance authorizing their employment upon finding that the terms of the employment sufficiently protect the minor's health, safety and welfare.

Appropriation:  none 

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

The existing process to obtain authorization to employ children in television and movie productions is unduly burdensome and discourages such employment.  This is particularly detrimental to children's programming.  The industry has always worked well with the department to assure proper working conditions.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Greg Mowat, Dept. of Labor and Industries; Steve Smalley, KOMO TV; Becky Bogard, WA Motion Picture Council; Tony Hazapis, American Federation of TV and Radio Artists, Screen Actors Guild