By:  Deshotel                                                     H.B. No. 2930



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

Relating to an age limitation on children engaged in the 
performance of duties related to a paper route.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS.  Sec. 51.002, Labor Code, is 
amended as follows:    

In this Chapter:                                                              
	(1)  "Child" means and individual under 18 years of age.                       
	(2)  "Commission" means the Texas Workforce Commission.                        
	(3)  "Delivery" means the distribution and maintenance of a 
paper route.
	SECTION 2.  GENERAL EXEMPTIONS.  Sec. 51.003, Labor Code is 
amended to read as follows:
	(a)  This chapter does not apply to the employment of a 
child:               
		(1)  employed in a:                                                           
			(a)  non-hazardous occupation;                                               
			(b)  under the direct supervision of the child's 
parent or and adult having custody of the child; and
			(c)  in a business or enterprise owned or operated 
by the parent or custodian
		(2)  a child 11 years or older engaged in delivery of 
newspapers to the consumer;
		(3)  participating in a school-supervised and 
school-administered work-study program approved by the commission;
		(4)  employed in agriculture during a period when the 
child is not legally required to be attending school;
		(5)  employed through a rehabilitation program 
supervised by a county judge; or
		(6)  engaged in non-hazardous casual employment that 
will not endanger the safety, health, or well-being of the child and 
to which the parent or adult having custody of the child has 
consented.
	(b)  In this section, "employment in agriculture" means 
engaged in producing crops or livestock and includes:
		(1)  cultivating and tilling the soil;                                        
		(2)  producing, cultivating, growing and harvesting an 
agricultural or horticultural commodity;
		(3)  dairying; and                                                            
		(4)  raising livestock, bees, fur-bearing animals, or 
poultry.              
	(c)  For the purposes of Subsection (A)(6), the commission by 
rule may define non-hazardous casual employment that that the 
commission determines is dangerous to the safety, health, or 
well-being of a child.
	SECTION 3.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect 
immediately if it receives a vote of two thirds of all the members 
elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas 
Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for 
immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2005.