Proposal:Child Labor Prevention Act

This proposal is archived and closed to further debate. It was introduced in the 118th Congress, which has concluded, and the bill was not enacted into law.

Bill	S 637
Type of Legislation	Senate Bill
Congress	118
Status	Archived — 118th Congress concluded
Source	View original on Congress.gov

Geographic Scope

National

Description

Child Labor Prevention Act

This bill extends the prohibitions against child labor to independent contractors and increases the penalties for violations of such laws.

Specifically, the bill expands the definition of an employer under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to include any person engaging an individual for the performance of work (including an independent contractor). The bill also expands the definition of work to include the performance of services for remuneration.

Further, the bill replaces the current maximum civil penalty of $11,000 for a violation of the child labor laws with a minimum civil penalty of $5,000 and a maximum of $132,270 (or, in the case of a violation that causes death or serious injury, $25,000 and $601,150, respectively). The civil penalties must be increased annually to match any percent increase in the Consumer Price Index.

Repeat or willful offenders may be fined not more than $50,000 and imprisoned for not more than 1 year.

Bill Title

Child Labor Prevention Act

Linked Goals

• Goal:Promote General Welfare

Steps

• 2023-03-02: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
• 2023-03-02: Introduced in Senate

Projected Outcome

A more informed proposal or public response aligned with the Promote General Welfare goal.