Permits minors to be employed as a referee, umpire or official at a youth sporting event

Summary of provisions

Section 1 adds a new paragraph to subdivision 2 of section 130 of the labor law to include an exception to allow a minor twelve or thirteen years of age as a referee, umpire or official at a youth sporting event when attendance upon instruction is not required by the education law.

Section 2 amends paragraph a of subdivision 3 of section 131 of the labor law adding an exception to work without a certificate or permit for fourteen and fifteen year olds.

Section 3 amends subdivision 3 of section 132 of the labor law, allowing an exception for sixteen and seventeen year olds to work without an employment certificate or permit.

Section 4 amends subdivision 4 of section 142 of the labor law to add an exemption from the statute for fourteen and fifteen year olds employed as a referee, umpire or official at a youth sporting event.

Section 5 amends subdivision 4 of section 143 of the labor law to include an exemption from statute application for sixteen and seventeen year olds who are working as a referee, umpire or official at a youth sporting event.

Justification

The labor laws of New York state that no minor under the age of fourteen shall be employed in or in connection with any trade, business or service. Since its inception, however, numerous exceptions have been created to allow a minor of a specified age to be able to work before the age of fourteen. Exceptions have allowed child performers and models to be allotted work under the age of fourteen. Furthermore, exceptions have been added for a minor twelve to thirteen to be permitted to work on a family farm, family market stand, or as a bridge caddie. There also is an exception for a minor eleven years of age to be permitted to be a newspaper carrier. All of these exceptions

are allotted as long as they comply with either the arts and cultural affairs law or the education law work requirements for minors.

When exceptions have allowed children under the age of fourteen to be permitted to work in a certain field, the amendment has also provided provisions allowing youth ages fourteen through seventeen to be employed in that same field without a certificate of employment or a permit. Similar to the exclusion for a bridge caddie, this exception allowing twelve and thirteen year olds to be employed as a referee, umpire or official at a youth sporting event, accompany provisions allowing those ages fourteen through seventeen to do so without an employment certificate or permit.

Currently, many youth sport leagues are experiencing shortages in referees or umpires. For example, many youth hockey leagues are trying to cope with a significant shortage of youth referees. This legislation would allow more young people to enjoy contributing to youth sports regardless of their athletic ability and to learn the value of gainful employment.

Legislative history

S.7373 of 2014 referred to Labor; A.927 of 2013 referred to Labor; A.7484 of 2011-12 referred to Labor/ S.510 - Passed Senate; S.6652 - of 2009-10 referred to Labor

Fiscal implications

None

Effective date

Immediately