What's happening
This resolution ratifies a proposed U.S. Constitutional amendment giving Congress the power to regulate or prohibit labor by persons under 18.
Why it matters
Empowers Congress to set national standards on child labor. By ratifying this amendment, Congress would have clear authority to establish, regulate, or ban work by anyone under 18, potentially overriding inconsistent or weaker state laws.
State laws can still be stricter, but not weaker. States could continue to enforce their own child labor regulations, but only if those rules are at least as strict as federal law—federal law would always take precedence if there is a conflict.
Could impact a range of youth employment practices. This authority could affect not just traditional jobs but also family farms, gig work, or other less-regulated areas where minors are employed, expanding protections to more young people.
Reflects ongoing concern about child welfare and labor exploitation. The amendment’s ratification would signal renewed commitment to safeguarding minors from potentially harmful work conditions, responding to both historical abuses and modern shifts in the labor market.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ratify Child Labor Amendment
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 39
History
- To attorney-general for opinion
- Referred to judiciary
- To attorney-general for opinion
- Referred to judiciary
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.
Approve Child Labor Amendment
In Assembly Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor Brian Barnwell
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1661
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 15, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY ratifying the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to the labor of persons under eighteen years of age
WHEREAS, at the first session of the sixty-eighth Congress it was resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress Assembled (two-thirds of each house concurring therein), that the following article be proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as a part of the said Constitution when ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths of the several states, viz.:
ARTICLE
Section 1. The Congress shall have the power to limit, regulate, and prohibit the labor of persons under eighteen years of age.
Section 2. The power of the several States is unimpaired by this article except that the operation of State laws shall be suspended to the extent necessary to give effect to legislation enacted by the Congress.
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the legislature of the State of New York does hereby ratify the above recited proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States; and be it further,
Resolved, That the Secretary of State be requested to transmit a certified copy of this concurrent resolution to the Administrator of General Services of the United States of America.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD89046-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY rati- fying the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to the labor of persons under eighteen years of age
Purpose or general idea of bill
Relates to ratifying the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to the labor of persons under eighteen years of age.
Summary of provisions
Ratifying an amendment.to the federal constitution in relations to having the power to limit, regulate, and prohibit the labor of persons under eighteen years of age.
Justification
The Child Labor Amendment was submitted to the states by Congress in 1924 for ratification as a part of the federal Constitution and has now been pending ever since. Currently, 28 states have ratified this amend- ment and 15 states have rejected and did not subsequently ratify it. New York is one of five states that have no record of taking any action on this amendment. While the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 went on to cover the issues in the Child Labor Amendment, ratification of the amendment will put New York on the right side of history.
Prior legislative history
Assembly:
03/15/18 - Referred to Judiciary 03/16/18 - To Attorney General for opinion
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
Shall be valid to all intents and purposes as a part of the said Consti- tution when ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths of the several states.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.