Bill to raise penalties and strengthen oversight for child labor violations draws broad support from trades, mixed response from contractors

House Bill 16-44 would increase penalties and tighten oversight for the employment of minors in nonagricultural trades and occupations. The bill removes the current $1,000 flat maximum for many violations, sets minimum penalty amounts for different violation categories, increases civil penalties for ongoing serious or repeated violations, and requires revocation of a minor work permit in specified circumstances.

Staff told the committee the bill replaces the current maximum penalty framework with minimum assessments for certain violations, including: $100 for certain nonserious violations; $150 for failure to comply with hours-of-work requirements; $300 for failure to provide meal or rest breaks; $1,000 for failure to comply with prohibited-duty and other serious violations; and $71,000 for violations resulting in serious physical harm or death to a minor, with potential doubling for willful or repeated violations. The bill also raises the additional civil penalty for each day a serious or repeat violation continues to a minimum of $1,000 and requires L&I to conduct safety and health consultations at worksites before granting student-learner variances.

Sponsor Representative Vicki Fosse (D) said the measure responds to a rise in minor workplace injuries and aims to protect students participating in work-based learning as an extension of the classroom. "These kids are also unfortunately more likely to be taken advantage of due to that lack of experience," she said, and added the bill is intended to deter bad actors while preserving legitimate educational programs.

Labor and construction-trades organizations testified in strong support. April Sims of the Washington State Labor Council said violations have left minors with "permanent severe injuries" and urged the committee to improve protections; building-trades unions emphasized that jobsite safety training and minimum penalties are needed to keep students safe.

Contractor and employer groups raised concerns about the bill's prescriptive requirements. Brandon Huskeeper of the Southwest Washington Contractors Association and Lindsey Heuer of the Association of Washington Businesses said the bill could remove helpful discretion from L&I and that detailed consultation requirements for every variance could be duplicative and create administrative barriers to youth employment programs. Huskeeper said the measure could have a “chilling effect on employers’ engagement with youth employment.”

Witnesses and staff acknowledged that the bill targets repeat or egregious violators while trying to preserve good programs; sponsor and stakeholders said they will continue to work on implementation details. The committee took testimony and left the bill pending further discussion; no formal vote occurred.