State Statutes
Laws pertaining to work permits vary widely from state to state. Most states require a general work permit before a minor may engage in any type of employment.
In general:
- Most states require a letter from your child’s school indicating that the child is in good academic standing before they will issue a permit.
- You must also have a copy of your child’s birth certificate available.
- Always check with your local school and your State’s Department of Labor regarding employment in your area.
Special Work Permits
States such as California, New York, Louisiana and New Mexico have special work permits and rules and proof of trust (a.k.a. Coogan) accounts for children who are employed in the entertainment industry. You will find information about those special permits and rules through the following links:
California: http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/DLSE-CL.htm
New York: http://www.labor.state.ny.us/workerprotection/laborstandards/secure/child_index.shtm
New Jersey: http://www.nj.gov/labor/lsse/lschild.html
New Mexico: http://www.nmcrn.state.nm.us/career/dol_permit.html
Louisiana: http://www.laworks.net/Downloads/ORS/MinorIntentionToEmployForm.pdf
Work Permit Information
For more information about your state’s laws in relation to the employment of minors visit the following websites:
Alabama: http://www.alalabor.state.al.us/CD/Movie%20Release.pdf
http://www.alalabor.state.al.us/PDFs/Work_Permit_Application.pdf
Alaska: http://labor.state.ak.us/lss/childlaw.htm
http://labor.state.ak.us/lss/lssforms.htm
Arizona: http://www.azcommerce.com/Film/Child+Labor+Laws+(Arizona+Youth+Labor+Law).htm
Arkansas: http://www.arkansas.gov/labor/divisions/labor_standards_p1.html
Colorado: http://www.coworkforce.com/emp/know_your_rights.asp
Connecticut: http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/wgwkstnd/faqs-minors.htm
Delaware: http://www.delawareworks.com/industrialaffairs/services/LaborLawEnforcementInfo.shtml
Florida: http://www.state.fl.us/dbpr/reg/childlabor/index.shtml
Georgia: http://www.dol.state.ga.us/em/child_labor.htm
Hawaii: http://www.hawaiifilmoffice.com/film-permitting/filming-regulations/child-labor-law
Idaho:
http://cl.idaho.gov/Portal/ICL/aliasjobservice/tabID4980/DesktopDefault.aspx
http://www3.state.id.us/idstat/TOC/44013KTOC.html
Illinois: http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/056/05600250sections.html
Indiana: http://www.in.gov/labor/childlabor/
Kentucky:
http://www.oet.ky.gov/des/pubs/jobser/childlabor.pdf
http://www.labor.ky.gov/ows/employmentstandards/childlaborlaw/
Maine: http://www.maine.gov/labor/labor_laws/wagehour.html
Maryland: http://dllr.state.md.us/labor/empm.html
Massachusetts: http://www.ago.state.ma.us/sp.cfm?pageid=1119
Michigan: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Work_Permit_FACT_SHEET_July_2006_169123_7.pdf
Minnesota: http://www.doli.state.mn.us/childlbr.html
Mississippi: http://www.mdes.ms.gov/wps/portal#null
Missouri:
http://dolir.missouri.gov/ls/brochures/11-AI.pdf
http://www.dolir.mo.gov/ls/childlabor/
Montana: http://erd.dli.mt.gov/laborstandard/wagehrchild.asp
Nevada: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-609.html
New Hampshire: http://www.labor.state.nh.us/youth_employment.asp
North Carolina: http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/rules1933/rules1933.html
Oklahoma: http://www.ok.gov/~okdol/wh/ChildLabor/CHILDLABORSTATUTES.HTM
Oregon: http://www.boli.state.or.us/BOLI/WHD/CLU/index.shtml
Pennsylvania: http://www.dli.state.pa.us/landi/CWP/view.asp?a=185&Q=58124
Rhode Island: http://www.dlt.ri.gov/ls/childlabor.htm
South Carolina: http://www.llr.state.sc.us/Labor/wages/index.asp?file=childlabor.htm
South Dakota: http://www.state.sd.us/dol/dlm/dlm-home.htm
Tennessee: http://www.state.tn.us/labor-wfd/childlab.html
Texas: http://www.twc.state.tx.us/ui/lablaw/cllsum.html
Vermont: http://www.labor.vermont.gov/
Virginia:
http://www.dli.state.va.us/infocenter/publications/laborlaws/guideforteens_web.pdf
http://www.dli.state.va.us/whatwedo/labor_law/childlabor_faq.html
Washington State: http://www.lni.wa.gov/WorkplaceRights/TeenWorkers/default.asp
Wisconsin: http://www.dwd.state.wi.us/er/labor_standards_bureau/child_labor_laws.htm
