What's happening
This bill allows minors aged 14 or older who are active members of a religious community to work or assist in employment within that community under adult supervision.
Why it matters
Expands work opportunities for minors in religious communities. This bill allows 14- and 15-year-old active members of religious communities to work or help with work within their community, even if such work would normally be prohibited for their age group, provided they are supervised by an adult community member.
Shifts oversight and verification from the state to families and communities. Instead of state authorities verifying the appropriateness or sincerity of a minor’s involvement in religious community work, a simple affidavit from the minor’s parent or guardian is sufficient, with no requirement to explain or prove their beliefs.
Raises questions about child labor protections and exceptions. By permitting work otherwise restricted for minors based on religious affiliation, the bill may create a pathway for religious organizations to operate under different labor standards than other employers, potentially impacting the scope and enforcement of child labor laws in New York.
Respects privacy and autonomy of religious families. The bill specifically bars state or outside authorities from interrogating the nature or sincerity of the family’s religious beliefs, reinforcing protections for religious privacy and autonomy in employment matters.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Religious Minors to Work
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Held for consideration in labor
- Referred to labor
- Referred to labor
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5432
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 12, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. GOODELL, DiPIETRO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. MORINELLO, WALSH -- read once and referred to the Committee on Labor
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to authorizing minors fourteen years of age or older, working as part of a religious community of which they are a member, to be employed in or assist in certain activities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 131 of the labor law is amended by adding a new subdivision 7 to read as follows:
7. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit the employment of or assistance in employment by a minor fourteen or fifteen years of age who is the member of a religious community as provided in paragraph c of subdivision three of section one hundred thirty-three of this article.
§ 2. Section 132 of the labor law is amended by adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
6. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit the employment of or assistance in employment by a minor sixteen or seventeen years of age who is the member of a religious community as provided in paragraph c of subdivision three of section one hundred thirty-three of this article.
§ 3. Subdivision 3 of section 133 of the labor law is amended by adding a new paragraph c to read as follows:
c. The provisions of subdivision two of this section shall not apply to any minor fourteen years of age or older, when such minor is employed by or assists in the employment of a religious community, of which such minor is an active member; provided, however, that at all times while such a minor is engaged or assisting in otherwise prohibited employment, he or she shall be under the supervision of a person eighteen years of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09285-01-9
A. 5432 2
age or older who is an active member of the same religious community as the supervised minor. An affidavit signed by the parent, parents or guardian of such a minor, stating that such parent, parents or guardian hold the genuine and sincere religious beliefs of the religious community and that the minor is an active member of such religious community shall constitute proof that such minor may be so employed or assist in such employment. The parent, parents or guardian shall not be required to specify or elaborate on the nature, genuineness or sincerity of the religious belief or be subject to any further inquiry.
§ 4. 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.