INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -
An Indiana lawmaker’s efforts to eliminate the state’s child labor laws have
raised conflict of interest concerns because he employs hundreds of minors
at a ski resort.
Republican Sen.
Chip Perfect’s bill would remove work permit requirements for minors and
remove restrictions on hours that 16- and 17-year-olds can work, The
Indianapolis Star reported. Perfect is also the CEO of Perfect North Slopes,
which employees 300 to 400 minors.
Indiana Senate
rules say a lawmaker should consider if a bill has a “unique, direct and
material effect” before voting on it.
Perfect’s business
interests means his involvement in the bill should be scrutinized, said
Julia Vaughn, the policy director for political watchdog group Common Cause
Indiana.
Perfect said the
bill focuses on small businesses and that there’s no conflict of interest.
“It wouldn’t affect
me directly because, as I testified today, we have invested an incredible
amount of money and we are currently adhering to the laws,” Perfect said at
a committee hearing last week.
The Senate’s Ethics
Committee doesn’t review conflict of interest issues unless a review is
requested, said Sen. Liz Brown, the committee’s chair.
Supporters of the
bill say the current law is outdated and difficult to navigate.
“It’s an
administrative burden on the school system, it’s an administrative burden on
the parents and the students, and it’s an administrative burden on us,
considering that (work permits) really serve no purpose,” said Matt Eckert,
CEO of theme park Holiday World.
Bill supporters
also note that federal law includes protections for minors, such as a
minimum wage, restrictions on dangerous jobs and hour limits for workers
younger than 16. The U.S. is also a member of the International Labour
Organization, which enforces age standards and bans child slavery.
Opponents of
Perfect’s bill say completely eliminating the state’s child labor laws isn’t
the right solution to the system’s problems.
“We oppose this
bill because we think it’s doing away with some laws that are appropriate
and still suitable to make sure students do not work excessive hours, late
hours,” said Terry Spradlin, executive director of the Indiana School Boards
Association. “There is a need for these laws. They’re serving their
purpose.”
About 72 percent of
inspections of state businesses in fiscal year 2018 resulted in child labor
violations, which led to almost $1.5 million in penalties, according to the
Indiana Department of Labor.