Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Labor.youth Employment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House adopts resolution urging theaters to consider MPAA ratings for employees, not a new law (S.J.R. 2 substitute)
Summary
Lawmakers adopted a substitute resolution urging movie-theater owners to consider MPAA ratings when assigning or exposing employees to films; sponsors emphasized the measure is voluntary guidance, not a statutory prohibition on hiring youth.
The Utah House adopted a substituted House Joint Resolution (recorded as S.J.R. number 2 in the transcript) on Feb. 1 urging movie-exhibition businesses to consider Motion Picture Association ratings when assigning employees or exposing them to films. Representative Bush, who presented the substitute, said the measure is advisory: “This is not a law... It’s merely a voluntary rating system and this resolution is to point out that the employees could have the same consideration,” he said.
Floor debate centered on aligning statutory definitions, employee exposure and whether the resolution sends the right message about youth employment. Representative Nelson declared a conflict of interest as president of an organization that operates a movie theater but commended the sponsor’s intent, and lawmakers successfully amended the substitute to sync the term "minor" with state code language (citing state code 15-2-1).
Members questioned whether the resolution would discourage entry-level jobs for young people. Supporters said it recommends better working conditions and consistency with industry ratings rather than imposing hiring bans. The final roll-call reported 57 yes and 7 no; the substitute resolution passed.
