BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 2930
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, Chapter 51, Labor Code, includes an exception to the child labor age restriction so that children may deliver newspapers. However, due to the current definition of "newspaper delivery" and the lack of a minimum age requirement, young children selling newspapers can be placed in dangerous situations. Recently, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has investigated incidents where very young children were hit by cars as they sold newspapers from medians of busy intersections. Because the employer is not in violation of any child labor laws, TWC cannot take action to protect these children.
H.B. 2930 amends the Labor Code to require juveniles to be at least 11 years old to engage in the delivery of newspapers and redefines "delivery of newspapers" so that it only includes distribution of newspapers on, or maintenance of, a paper route, and not direct sales to the general public.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 51.002, Labor Code, to redefine "commission" and to define "delivery of newspapers."
SECTION 2. Amends Section 51.003, Labor Code, to provide that this chapter (General Exemptions) does not apply to employment of a child 11 years or older engaged in delivery of newspapers to the consumer.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2005.