An Act To Conform State Law to Federal Law While Promoting Safe Working Environments for Minors
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1564
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: LANGLEY, FREDETTE, VOLK, AUSTIN, ESPLING, FARRIN, GERRISH, PARRY, STETKIS, VACHON
Amends: 26 MRSA §771, 26 MRSA §772, 26 MRSA §773, 26 MRSA §773-A, 26 MRSA §774, 26 MRSA §775, 26 MRSA §777, 26 MRSA §781, 39-A MRSA §408

Legislative Document
No. 1564
S.P. 548
In Senate, May 2, 2017
An Act To Conform State Law to Federal Law While Promoting 
Safe Working Environments for Minors
Submitted by the Department of Labor pursuant to Joint Rule 204.
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed.
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator LANGLEY of Hancock.
Cosponsored by Representative FREDETTE of Newport and
Senator: VOLK of Cumberland, Representatives: AUSTIN of Gray, ESPLING of New 
Gloucester, FARRIN of Norridgewock, GERRISH of Lebanon, PARRY of Arundel, STETKIS 
of Canaan, VACHON of Scarborough.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  26 MRSA §771, as amended by PL 1991, c. 544, §4, is further amended to 
read: 
§771.  Minors under 14 years of age 
A minor under 14 years of age may not be employed, permitted or suffered to work 
in, about or in connection with agriculture nonagricultural or agricultural employment, 
except for agricultural employment in the planting, cultivating or harvesting of field crops 
or other agricultural employment not in direct contact with hazardous machinery or 
hazardous substances, any eating place, automatic laundries, retail establishment where 
frozen dairy products are manufactured on the premises, sporting or overnight camp, 
mercantile establishment or in outdoor occupations on the grounds of a hotel, and a minor 
between the ages of 14 and 16 years may not be so employed when the distance between 
the work place and the home of the minor, or any other factor, necessitates the minor's 
remaining away from home overnight as long as the employment is in accordance with 
rules adopted pursuant to section 772 and in accordance with 29 Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 570.  This section does not apply to any such minor who is employed 
directly by, with or under the supervision of either or both of the minor's parents; or to 
any such minor under 14 years of age employed in school lunch programs, if limited to 
serving food and cleaning up dining rooms, or in a business solely owned by the minor's 
parents.  A parent is prohibited from employing the parent's minor child in occupations 
declared hazardous by the director pursuant to section 772 and in accordance with 29 
Code of Federal Regulations, Part 570. 
Sec. 2.  26 MRSA §772, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2009, c. 631, §47 and affected 
by §51, is further amended to read: 
2.  Rules; list of employment and occupations.  The director shall adopt rules to 
develop and maintain a list of employment and occupations not suitable for employment 
of for a minor.  The rules must conform as far as practicable to the child labor provisions 
of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, 29 United States Code, Section 212 and 
any associated regulations.  The rules must also contain provisions prohibiting the 
employment of minors in places having nude entertainment and in registered dispensaries 
of marijuana for medical use authorized under Title 22, chapter 558-C. 
Sec. 3.  26 MRSA §773, as amended by PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. B, §12, is repealed. 
Sec. 4.  26 MRSA §773-A is enacted to read: 
§773-A.  Occupations 
1.  Minors 14 and 15 years of age.  A minor 14 years of age or older and under 16 
years of age may not be employed, permitted or suffered to work in, about or in 
connection with any manufacturing or mechanical establishment, hotel, rooming house, 
laundry, except a laundry commonly known as an automatic laundry, dry cleaning 
establishment, bakery, poolroom or commercial place of amusement, including a 
traveling show or circus, or in conjunction with an amusement, game or show that allows 
or conducts betting. 
The provisions of this subsection pertaining to manufacturing establishments do not apply 
to minors 14 years of age or older and under 16 years of age who are employed in retail 
establishments where any frozen dairy product or frozen dairy product mix or related 
food product is produced on the premises for retail sale locally, regardless of trade name 
or brand or coined name. 
The provisions of this subsection pertaining to hotels or rooming houses do not apply to 
minors 14 years of age or older and under 16 years of age who are employed in outdoor 
occupations on the grounds of a hotel or who are employed in kitchens, dining rooms, 
lobbies and offices of a hotel.  Minors 14 years of age or older and under 16 years of age 
may perform housekeeping duties but only in the presence or line of sight of an adult.  
Minors 14 years of age or older and under 16 years of age are expressly prohibited from 
performing room service and making deliveries to guest rooms. 
The provisions of this subsection pertaining to bakeries do not apply to minors 14 years 
of age or older and under 16 years of age who are employed in retail sales, product 
decorating, customer service operations or office work for these establishments, as long 
as the retail, decorating, customer service or office areas are in a room separate from any 
baking operation. 
Notwithstanding other provisions of this subsection, a minor 14 years of age or older and 
under 16 years of age may be employed at a commercial place of amusement operating at 
a permanent location, except that minors may not be employed at games of chance as 
defined in Title 17, chapter 62 or hazardous occupations as determined by the director. 
This subsection does not apply to any minor 14 years of age or older and under 16 years 
of age employed in a business solely owned by the minor's parents.  A parent is 
prohibited from employing the parent's minor child in occupations declared hazardous by 
the director pursuant to section 772 and in accordance with 29 Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 570. 
2.  Minors 16 and 17 years of age.  A minor who is 16 years of age or older and 
under 18 years of age: 
A.  May perform work in both nonagricultural and agricultural employment not in 
direct contact with hazardous machinery or hazardous substances in accordance with 
rules adopted pursuant to section 772 and in accordance with 29 Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 570; 
B.  May perform work as a theatrical actor or film actor; 
C.  May perform work without hour restrictions as set forth in section 774 if 
employed in a business solely owned by the minor's parents.  A parent is prohibited 
from employing the parent's minor child who is 16 years of age or older and under 18 
years of age in occupations declared hazardous by the director in accordance with 
rules adopted pursuant to section 772 and in accordance with 29 Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 570; 
D.  Is exempt from section 774, subsection 1, paragraphs A and C when performing 
work in the taking or catching of lobsters, fish or other marine organisms; and 
E.  Who has graduated from an approved vocational cooperative education program 
and is hired by an employer to work in an occupation for which the graduate has been 
trained and certified by the vocational program may work for that employer in that 
occupation. 
Sec. 5.  26 MRSA §774, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2011, c. 174, §§1 to 3, is 
further amended to read: 
1.  Minors 16 and 17 years of age.  A minor 16 years of age or older and under 18 
years of age, enrolled in school, may not be employed as follows: 
A.  More than 50 hours in any week when the minor's school is not in session; 
B.  More than 24 hours in any week when the minor's school is in session.  In 
addition, the maximum weekly hours a minor may work is 50 hours during any week 
that the approved school calendar for the minor's school is less than 3 days or during 
the first or last week of the school calendar, regardless of how many days the minor's 
school is in session for the week.  If requested, a school must provide verification of 
its closings to the minor's employer or the Department of Labor; 
C.  More than 10 hours in any day when the minor's school is not in session; 
D.  More than 6 hours in any day when the minor's school is in session, except that 
the minor may work up to 8 hours on the last scheduled day of the school week; 
E.  More than 6 consecutive days; 
F.  After 10:15 p.m. on a day preceding a day on which the minor's school is in 
session or after 12 midnight on a day that does not precede such a school day; or 
G.  Before 7 a.m. on a day on which the minor's school is in session or before 5 a.m. 
on any other day. 
Sec. 6.  26 MRSA §774, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1993, c. 434, §4, is further 
amended to read: 
2.  Minors 14 and 15 years of age.  A minor 14 years of age or older and under 16 
years of age may not be employed as follows: 
A.  More than 40 hours in any week when school is not in session; 
B.  More than 18 hours in any week when school is in session; 
C.  More than 8 hours in any day when school is not in session; 
D.  More than 3 hours in any day when school is in session; 
E.  More than 6 consecutive days; or 
F.  Between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. except during summer vacation, when that 
minor may not work between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. 
Sec. 7.  26 MRSA §775, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2001, c. 398, Pt. A, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
4.  Conditions for revocation.  The superintendent may revoke the work permit 
issued to a minor by the bureau if the superintendent determines that the minor has not 
maintained the conditions for issuance of the work permit under subsection 2, paragraph 
A.  The superintendent shall revoke 2nd work permits at the end of the summer vacation 
in accordance with the limits imposed by subsection 2, paragraph D.  The superintendent 
shall notify the Director of the Bureau of Labor Standards director and the minor's 
employer in writing upon revoking a minor's work permit.  The revocation is effective 
upon receipt by the employer of the superintendent's notice. 
The bureau may revoke the work permit if the director determines the minor has not been 
employed in accordance with section 773-A or section 774 or if the bureau has 
determined that the permit was improperly signed.  The director shall notify the 
superintendent and the minor's employer in writing upon revoking a minor's work permit. 
Sec. 8.  26 MRSA §775, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 544, §5, is further 
amended to read: 
5.  Permit on file.  The employer shall keep all work permits issued for the 
employer's minor employees on file and accessible to any attendance officer, factory 
inspector or other authorized officer or agent of the director charged with the enforcement 
of this subchapter. 
Sec. 9.  26 MRSA §775, sub-§6, as amended by PL 1993, c. 527, §1, is further 
amended to read: 
6.  Exception.  This section does not apply to minors engaged in work performed in 
the planting, cultivating or harvesting of field crops or other agricultural employment not 
in direct contact with hazardous machinery or hazardous substances or to minors engaged 
in household work.  Minors who are participants in summer youth employment and 
training programs funded by the Department of Labor are exempt from obtaining 
individual permits as long as the program employing the minor has submitted a master 
permit as developed by notice to the director under section 777. 
Sec. 10.  26 MRSA §777, as amended by PL 2001, c. 398, Pt. A, §2, is further 
amended to read: 
§777.  Permit formats 
The blank work permit required by section 775 must be formulated by the director 
and furnished by appropriate means by the director to the persons authorized to sign work 
permits.  The forms of the permits must be approved by the Attorney General.  Every 
work permit must be made out in triplicate.  All triplicates, accompanied by the original 
papers on which the permits were signed, must be forwarded to the bureau by the officer 
signing the permits, within 24 hours of the time the permit was signed.  The bureau shall 
examine the papers and promptly return them to the officer who sent them after validating 
the copies and retaining one copy for bureau files.  The officer may then return to the 
minor all papers filed in proof of age.  Whenever there is reason to believe that a work 
permit was improperly signed, the director, deputy director or agent shall notify the local 
superintendent of schools of the place in which the certificate was signed. The local 
superintendent shall cancel the permit when directed to do so by the director.  The 
director may develop an electronic transmittal system to fulfill these requirements.  
Permit forms may be made available by the bureau and submitted in paper or electronic 
format as long as the parent's or guardian's signature is submitted to the superintendent. 
The director shall develop a master permit system for participants in summer youth 
employment and training programs funded by the Department of Labor.  The master 
permit eliminates the need for prior approval by the director or the superintendent of 
schools.  A minor on a master permit may be removed from the master permit for the 
same reasons and in the same manner as applicable to an individual work permit. 
Sec. 11.  26 MRSA §781, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 544, §10, is amended 
to read: 
2.  Intentional or knowing violation of section 771, 772 or 773-A.  An employer 
who intentionally or knowingly employs, permits or suffers any minor to be employed or 
to work in violation of section 771, 772 or 773 773-A is subject to the following 
forfeiture or civil penalty fines, payable to the State and recoverable in a civil action: 
A.  For the first violation or a violation not subject to an enhanced sanction under 
paragraph B or C, a forfeiture or penalty fine of not less than $500; 
B.  For a 2nd violation occurring within 3 years of a prior adjudication, a penalty fine 
of not less than $5,000 nor more than $20,000; or 
C.  For a 3rd and subsequent violation occurring within 3 years of 2 or more prior 
adjudications, a penalty fine of not less than $10,000 nor more than $50,000. 
Sec. 12.  39-A MRSA §408, sub-§§1 and 2, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. 
A, §8 and affected by §§9 to 11, are amended to read: 
1.  Legally employed minors.  A minor is deemed sui juris for the purpose of this 
Act if the minor's employer was not in violation of Title 26, section 771, 772 or 773 
773-A at the time of the minor's injury.  No other person has any cause of action or right 
to compensation for an injury to that minor employee except as provided in this section. 
2.  Illegally employed minors.  A minor is not deemed to have waived the minor's 
right of action at common law and under section 104 if the minor's employer was in 
violation of Title 26, section 771, 772 or 773 773-A at the time of the minor's injury. 
A.  The minor employee, the minor's parent or guardian or any other person, as 
permitted by common law or statute, may file a civil action permitted under this 
subsection. 
B.  The minor employee is entitled to compensation under this Act in addition to any 
right of action permitted under this subsection. 
C.  If the employer is self-insured for liability under this Act, any award received by 
the minor in an action permitted under this subsection must be reduced by the amount 
of compensation received under this Act. 
D.  If the employer is insured for liability under this Act, the employer is considered a 
3rd party under section 107, and the employer's insurer is entitled to all rights of 
subrogation, contribution or other rights granted to an employer under section 107. 
SUMMARY 
This bill amends laws relating to minors 14 and 15 years of age to allow them to 
work in bowling alleys and movie theaters and to clarify their employment in bakeries, 
hotels and rooming houses.  It updates a provision regarding work permits for minors by 
deleting language dealing with triplicate permits and a master permit system and allowing 
for use of electronic permit submission and approval.  It moves the occupational 
restrictions for minors 16 and 17 years of age to the section with occupational restrictions 
for minors 14 and 15 years of age.  It also clarifies that graduates of vocational programs 
who are under 18 years of age can work in the occupations for which they were trained.