What's happening
This bill allows minors as young as 12 to work as referees, umpires, or officials at youth sports events under certain conditions.
Why it matters
Creates a structured pathway for very young teens (12-13) to earn money and gain work experience. by serving as referees, umpires, or officials—potentially fostering early responsibility and job skills in a supervised, community-oriented setting.
Includes academic and parental safeguards. Employment is allowed only with written parental consent and ongoing certification from the minor’s school confirming satisfactory academic standing, ensuring the job does not interfere with education or family oversight.
Limits work to one event per week for the youngest minors,. so as to reduce risk of exploitation or overwork, and keeps a check on the balance between school, work, and personal time.
Expands opportunities for slightly older minors (14-15) to officiate games for youth up to 15 years old,. potentially helping local sports leagues address shortages of officials and promoting a peer-led environment in youth sports.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Minors Officiate Youth Sports
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
4 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to labor
- Referred to labor
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Let Minors Ref Youth Games
In Senate Committee · Labor · Sponsor Marisol Alcantara
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
189
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 4, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. BUCHWALD, BLAKE, STECK, WALTER, SALADINO, HOOPER -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK, MAGEE, McDONOUGH, PERRY, SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Labor
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to permitting the employment of minors as referees, umpires or officials at youth sporting events
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 2 of the labor law is amended by adding a new subdivision 17 to read as follows:
17. "Youth sporting event" means organized participation in a competitive physical activity aimed at using, maintaining or improving physical ability and skills of minors.
§ 2. Subdivision 2 of section 130 of the labor law is amended by adding a new paragraph i to read as follows:
i. A minor twelve or thirteen years of age as a referee, umpire or official at a youth sporting event for minors predominately ten years of age or less when attendance upon instruction is not required by the education law, provided the employing organization receives and maintains both the written consent of the minor's parent or guardian and a certificate which shall be provided to the employing organization at the end of each marking period by the minor's school which shall assert that such minor is in satisfactory academic standing according to the standards in such school district. A minor eligible to work pursuant to this paragraph shall only serve as a referee, umpire or official at most one youth sporting event per week.
§ 3. Paragraph a of subdivision 3 of section 131 of the labor law is amended by adding a new subparagraph 7 to read as follows:
(7) Service as a referee, umpire or official at a youth sporting event for minors predominately twelve years of age or less.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01579-01-7
A. 189 2
§ 4. Paragraph a of subdivision 3 of section 132 of the labor law is amended by adding a new subparagraph 7 to read as follows:
(7) Service as a referee, umpire or official at a youth sporting event for minors predominately fifteen years of age or less.
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.