Nebraska amends child labor laws

Nebraska has enacted Legislative Bill 780 that amends an employer’s requirements for child labor certificates. Legislative Bill 780 is effective immediately.

Background:

Nebraska helps regulate child labor by requiring schools or the Nebraska Department of Labor to issue employment certificates to minors that are 14 and 15 years old.

Under the original law, Nebraska employers that employ such minors must:

• Keep complete lists of every minor employed in the building; one on file and one that is clearly visible and posted near the main entrance of the building where a minor is employed;
• Procure and maintain records of minors’ employment certificates, and make them accessible to the Department of Labor and school attendance officers; and
• Provide the employment certificate to the minor upon the termination of employment.

Additionally, a superintendent of the district where the minor resides (or a person authorized by the district officers if there is no superintendent) must approve an employment certificate.

Legislative Bill 780:

Legislative Bill 780 amends previous child labor laws in the following ways:

• Employers must only keep a complete list of every minor employed in the building on file;
• Employers must provide the employment certificate to the child upon demand (as well as upon termination of employment); and
• A principal of the school the minor attends (or the chief administrative officer of the school or the superintendent of the school district in which the child resides) must approve an employment certificate.

Next Steps:

Nebraska employers should update their hiring policies and practices and train managers and HR personnel to help ensure compliance with Legislative Bill 780.