SRC-JXG H.B. 160 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 160
By: Wise (Zaffirini)
Human Services
5/13/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law imposes restrictions on the age at which a child may
be employed, the hours a child may be employed, and the type of work a
child may be employed to perform. Certain businesses, such as those engaged
in sales, target minors for use as sales representatives.  H.B. 160 would
set forth provisions to regulate certain sales or solicitations made by
children, and would provide a certain penalty for an offense under this
section. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 160 sets forth provisions regulating certain sales or
solicitations made by children. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas Workforce Commission in
SECTION 1 (Section 51.0145(d), Labor Code) of this bill.  

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 51B, Labor Code, by adding Section 51.0145, as
follows:  

Sec. 51.0145. USE OF CHILD FOR SALES AND SOLICITATION.  Defines "exempt
organization" and "solicit."  Provides that the employment of a child to
solicit is a hazardous occupation for the purposes of this chapter.
Prohibits a person from employing a child unless certain conditions exist.
Authorizes the Texas Workforce Commission, by rule, to make additional
requirements for a person employing a child to protect the child's safety,
health, or well-being.  Specifies that this section does not apply to an
exempt organization or a business owned or operated by a parent,
conservator, guardian, or other person who has possession of the child
under a court order.  Provides that a person commits an offense if the
person employs a child in violation of a rule adopted under this section.  

SECTION 2. Amends Section 51.031, Labor Code, to provide that an offense
under Section 51.0145 is a Class A misdemeanor.  

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.