What's happening
This bill allows minors as young as twelve to work as referees, umpires, or officials at youth sporting events under certain conditions.
Why it matters
Expands work opportunities for younger minors. By explicitly allowing 12- and 13-year-olds to officiate youth sports, the bill provides early job experience and a chance to develop responsibility and leadership skills, which are often valued in future employment and educational settings.
Imposes academic and parental safeguards. The requirement for parental consent and proof of satisfactory academic standing ensures that minors’ school performance and well-being are protected, balancing work opportunities with educational priorities.
Limits work hours and scope. Restricting eligible minors to officiating at most one event per week and only for sports involving children predominantly ten or under (for 12- and 13-year-olds) reduces the risk of work interfering with school or other responsibilities, and keeps the work environment age-appropriate.
Sets precedent for youth involvement in community roles. By formally recognizing and regulating minors’ participation in officiating roles, the bill may encourage greater youth engagement in community activities and provide a structured pathway for involvement in organized sports beyond playing.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Minors Ref Youth Games
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
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 Officiate Youth Sports
In Assembly Committee · Labor · Sponsor David Buchwald
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4295
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 8, 2017
Introduced by Sen. ALCANTARA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed 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.
§ 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.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01579-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the labor law, in relation to permitting the employment of minors as referees, umpires or officials at youth sporting events
Purpose
This bill amends the Labor Law to include an exception to allow minors, ages twelve through seventeen, to serve as a referee, umpire or official at a youth sporting event without a certificate of employment or permit in limited circumstances. There are multiple protections in the bill to address parental approval, academic criteria and Labor Law concerns. This legislation would allow more young people to get paid to perform this work in their communities, as well as fill what is in many communities a shortage of youth sports officials.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 adds a new subdivision 17 to section 2 of the Labor Law to define the term "youth sporting event" to include organized participation in a competitive physical activity aimed at using, maintaining or improving physical ability and skills of minors.
Read the full memo (837 words)
Section 2 adds a new paragraph i to subdivision 2 of section 130 of the Labor Law to provide an exemption to allow twelve and thirteen year olds to serve as referees, umpires or officials at youth sporting events for minors predominately ten years of age or less when attendance upon instruction is not required by the education law. In order to serve as a referee, these minors would be required to provide written consent from a parent or guardian, be in good academic standing with the school district and would not be allowed to officiate at more than one youth sporting event per week.
Section 3 adds a new subparagraph 7 to paragraph a of subdivision 3 of section 131 of the Labor Law by providing an exception to allow fourteen and fifteen year olds to serve as a referee, umpire or official at a youth sporting event for minors predominantly twelve years of age or less when attendance upon instruction is not required by the education law.
Section 4 adds a new subparagraph 7 to paragraph a of subdivision 3 of section 132 of the Labor Law to provide an exception for sixteen and seventeen year olds to serve as a referee, umpire or official at a youth sporting event for minors predominantly fifteen years of age or less.
Section 5 states this this act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
In New York State, anyone under the age of 18 must show an employment certificate before they can work. These certificates, commonly known as "working papers," are issued by school districts and are valid for two years from the date of issue. In order to qualify for an employment certificate, applicants must present evidence of age, a parental or guardian signature, certificate of physical fitness, a pledge of employment, their school record and their social security number. New York State labor laws stipulate that no minor under the age of fourteen shall be employed in or in connection with any trade, business or service. However, numerous exceptions have been created to allow minors to work before the age of fourteen. For instance, an eleven year old may be employed as a newspaper carrier. Provisions also exist to allow twelve and thirteen year olds to work on a family farm, family market stand or as a bridge caddie. Child performers and models are also allowed to work under the age of fourteen. All of these exceptions are allowed as long as they comply with either the Education Law work requirements for minors or provisions contained within the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law.
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 certificate of employment or permit. Similar to that of 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.
Impact on regulation of businesses and individuals
None.
Effect on fines, terms of imprisonment or other penal sanctions
None.
Legislative history
2015-2016: A.6409 (Buchwald) - Referred to Labor / S.5274 (Martins) Passed Senate in 2015 2015: A.6409 (Buchwald) - Referred to Labor 2013-14: A.8457 (Buchwald) - Referred to Labor / S.7373 (Grisanti) Referred to Labor 2011-12: A.7484 - Referred to Labor/ 5.510 - Passed Senate 2009-10: S.6652 - Referred to Labor
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This bill shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.