HB 543

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to employment of children by the
3entertainment industry; amending s. 450.132, F.S.;
4defining terms; providing requirements for the employment
5of children in the entertainment industry; providing
6responsibilities of employers and parents or legal
7guardians of such children; requiring a preauthorization
8certificate for each child; providing duties of the
9Division of Regulation within the Department of Business
10and Professional Regulation; providing limitations on the
11working hours of child performers; providing certification
12requirements and duties of teachers and trainers of child
13performers; requiring a trust account for certain children
14employed in the entertainment industry; providing safety
15requirements for child performers; providing criteria for
16wage claims; providing requirements for the Agency for
17Workforce Innovation in resolving such claims; providing
18grounds under which the Division of Regulation may refuse
19to issue or renew a preauthorization certificate and
20procedures for challenging such a determination;
21reenacting ss. 450.021(1)(b) and 562.13(2)(b), F.S.,
22relating to the employment of minors in this state, to
23incorporate the amendments made to s. 450.132, F.S., in
24references thereto; providing an effective date.
25
26Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
27
28     Section 1.  Section 450.132, Florida Statutes, is amended
29to read:
30(Substantial rewording of section. See
31s. 450.132, F.S., for present text.)
32     450.132  Employment of children by the entertainment
33industry; rules; procedures; trust accounts.-
34     (1)  DEFINITIONS.-As used in this section, the term:
35     (a)  "Agency" means the Agency for Workforce Innovation.
36     (b)  "Certified teacher" means any person who holds a valid
37and current Florida teaching certificate issued by the
38Department of Education or its equivalent issued by any state,
39territory, possession, or other jurisdiction of the United
40States.
41     (c)  "Child" or "minor" has the same meaning as in s.
42450.012.
43     (d)  "Child performer" means a child employed to act or
44otherwise participate in the performing arts, including, but not
45limited to, motion pictures, theatrical, radio, or television
46products.
47     (e)  "Division" means the Division of Regulation within the
48Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
49     (f)  "Employ" includes suffer or permit to work.
50     (g)  "Employee" means a person whose work is controlled by
51an employer as to how and when to perform the task.
52     (h)  "Entertainment industry" has the same meaning as in s.
53450.012.
54     (i)  "Hazardous condition" means, but is not limited to,
55special effects that could potentially be physically dangerous
56to the child performer.
57     (j)  "Legal guardian" means a person appointed as a
58guardian by a court.
59     (k)  "Place of employment," including the "movie set,"
60"worksite," "set," and "location," means the actual location in
61this state where a person provides his or her services, whether
62paid or unpaid, as a performer.
63     (l)  "Safety" means the condition of being protected from
64any situation that is detrimental to the child's health and
65well-being.
66     (m)  "Wage claim" means a document signed by the attorney
67for a child performer giving the Agency for Workforce Innovation
68authority to investigate a complaint of unpaid wages.
69     (n)  "Wages" means all amounts at which the labor or
70service rendered is paid, whether the amount is fixed or on a
71time, task, piece, or commission basis.
72     (2)  EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY.-
73     (a)  Any person who employs a child performer in the
74entertainment industry must obtain a preauthorization
75certificate issued by the division before the start of work. The
76preauthorization certificate must include the project name; the
77estimated dates and length of the project; the employer's name
78and Florida address; contact information for at least three
79individuals, including name, address, and telephone numbers; and
80the child performer's information, including name, address, date
81of birth, where the child is registered to attend school, grade
82level of the child, special educational needs, anticipated
83length of employment on the project, nature of work on the
84project, and a list of any possible exposure to potentially
85hazardous materials or substances. A signature is required from
86the employer certifying compliance with all requirements of the
87preauthorization certificate.
88     (b)  A preauthorization certificate for a child performer
89may be issued only by the division.
90     (c)1.  Before issuing a preauthorization certificate, the
91employer shall provide to the division a certification of
92teaching compliance for each certified teacher employed to teach
93the child performer. The certificate of teaching compliance must
94state the certified teacher's appropriate teaching credentials
95to teach grade levels kindergarten through 12 or to teach the
96level of education required for the child performer at the place
97of employment.
98     2.  The employer must provide to the division a written
99criminal history check on all certified teachers on the movie
100set or at the place of employment. It is the responsibility of
101the employer, parent, legal guardian, and certified teacher to
102report any arrest or conviction record and any other information
103that may present a possible danger to the health, safety, or
104well-being of the child performer.
105     (d)  It is the responsibility of the employer to obtain a
106child performer preauthorization certificate before the
107employment begins. The employer must be able to provide a copy
108at the worksite when requested to do so. The division shall
109retain a copy of the preauthorization certificate.
110     (e)  The child performer preauthorization certificate is
111valid for 1 year after the date it is issued or until the
112specific project for which the child is employed by the employer
113ceases, whichever occurs first.
114     (f)  A signature is required from the child performer if
115the child is 14 years of age or older.
116     (g)  A preauthorization certificate may not be given or
117issued without the signature of a parent or legal guardian
118indicating his or her permission for his or her child to work on
119a specific project. A parent or legal guardian must be within
120eyesight and earshot of the child performer at all times other
121than the time periods in which the child is with a certified
122teacher when the teacher is teaching school.
123     (h)  The parent or legal guardian of the child performer
124may contact the division to renew the preauthorization
125certificate 30 days before its expiration.
126     (i)1.  It is the responsibility of the employer to provide
127a certified trainer or technician accredited in a United States
128Department of Labor occupational safety and health administered
129and certified safety program at the place of employment at all
130times when a child performer may be exposed to a potentially
131hazardous condition.
132     2.  The employer must provide to the division a written
133criminal history check on all certified trainers and technicians
134on the movie set. It is the responsibility of the employer,
135parent, legal guardian, and certified trainer or technician to
136report any arrest or conviction record and any other information
137that may present a possible danger to the health, safety, or
138well-being of the child performer.
139     (3)  LIMITATIONS ON CHILD PERFORMERS' WORKING HOURS,
140INCLUDING SCHOOL TIME.-
141     (a)  All child performers who are at least 6 years of age
142but younger than 18 years of age must be provided with a
143certified teacher for each group of 10 or fewer child performers
144when school is in session.
145     (b)  A child performer may not begin work before 5 a.m. or
146continue work after 10 p.m. on evenings preceding a school day.
147A child performer may not work later than midnight on a day
148preceding a nonschool day. The time that a child performer may
149be permitted at the place of employment may be extended by one-
150half hour for a meal period.
151     (c)1.  An infant who is at least 15 days of age but younger
152than 7 months of age may not be employed as a child performer
153unless a physician, who is a board-certified pediatrician,
154provides a written certification that the infant is physically
155capable of handling the stress of filmmaking. With the
156physician's approval, the infant performer may be at the place
157of employment a maximum of 2 hours and may not work more than 20
158minutes. Infants may work up to 2 cumulative hours in any 24-
159hour period.
160     2.  A child performer who is at least 7 months of age but
161younger than 3 years of age may be at the place of employment
162for up to 4 hours and may work up to 2 hours. The remaining time
163must be reserved for the child performer's rest and recreation.
164     3.  A child performer who is at least 3 years of age but
165younger than 6 years of age may be at the place of employment
166for up to 6 hours and may work up to 3 hours. The remaining time
167must be reserved for the child performer's rest and recreation.
168     (d)1.  When school is in session, each child performer who
169is at least 6 years of age but younger than 9 years of age may
170be at the place of employment for up to 8 hours; the sum of 4
171hours of work, 3 hours of school, and 1 hour of rest and
172recreation. If school is not in session, work time may be
173increased up to 6 hours, with the remaining time reserved for
174the child performer's rest and recreation.
175     2.  When school is in session, Each child performer who is
176at least 9 years of age but younger than 16 years of age may be
177at the place of employment for up to 9 hours, the sum of 5 hours
178of work, 3 hours of school, and 1 hour of rest and recreation.
179If school is not in session, work time may be increased up to 7
180hours, with the remaining time reserved for the child
181performer's rest and recreation.
182     3.  If school is in session, a child performer who is at
183least 16 years of age but younger than 18 years of age may be at
184the place of employment for up to 10 hours, the sum of 6 hours
185of work, 3 hours of school, and 1 hour of rest and recreation.
186If school is not in session, work time may be increased up to 8
187hours, with the remaining time reserved for the child
188performer's rest and recreation.
189     (e)  In exceptional circumstances due to unusual
190performance requirements, the division may grant a temporary
191waiver of the mandatory hours and start-to-finish times. The
192waiver must be granted before the performances of the work that
193is the subject of the waiver. The division may grant a waiver
194only under the following circumstances:
195     1.  Written notification is provided which includes a list
196of specific dates and times that the child performer shall be
197employed or present at the place of employment.
198     2.  Written acknowledgement is provided that the child
199performer's parent or legal guardian has been fully informed of
200the circumstances and has granted advance consent.
201     (f)  The child performer must be provided with a 12-hour
202rest and recreation break at the end of each workday.
203     (g)  All time spent traveling from a studio to a location
204or from a location to a studio counts as part of the child's
205workday. When a child is with a company on a location that is
206sufficiently distant and requires an overnight stay, and the
207child is required to travel daily between the living quarters
208and the place where the company is actually working, the time
209the child spends traveling does not count as work time, provided
210the company does not spend more than 45 minutes traveling each
211way and furnishes the necessary transportation.
212     (4)  CERTIFICATION AND DUTIES OF CERTIFIED TEACHERS.-
213     (a)  A certified teacher of a child performer who attends a
214public school must possess a valid and current teaching
215certificate issued by the Department of Education. A certified
216teacher of a child performer who attends a private school or of
217a nonresident child performer must possess a valid and current
218teaching certificate from another state, territory, possession,
219or other jurisdiction of the United States to teach grade levels
220kindergarten through 12 or to teach the level of education
221required for the child performer at the place of employment.
222     (b)  A certified teacher has, in addition to teaching and
223in conjunction with the parent or legal guardian, the
224responsibility of monitoring and protecting the health, safety,
225and well-being of each child performer who the teacher has been
226hired to teach during the time that the teacher is required to
227be present.
228     (c)  The certified teacher, parent, or legal guardian may
229refuse to allow the engagement of the child performer at the
230place of employment. Any party may report to the division
231conditions threatening the health, safety, or well-being of the
232child performer. It is the ultimate responsibility of the parent
233or legal guardian to ensure that the safety, health, and well-
234being of the child are being protected. A certified teacher
235shall be present during the time reserved for school, except
236that a child performer younger than 16 years of age does not
237require the presence of a certified teacher for up to 1 hour for
238wardrobe, makeup, hairdressing, promotional publicity, personal
239appearances, or audio recording if these activities are not
240located on the actual site of filming or at the theatre or if
241school is not in session, and if the parent or legal guardian is
242present within earshot or eyesight of the child performer.
243     (5)  TRUST ACCOUNT FOR CHILD PERFORMERS.-
244     (a)  Each time a child performer is employed in the
245entertainment industry in this state under a contract in an
246amount equal to or greater than $1,000, a trust account shall be
247created for the child performer.
248     (b)  The parent, legal guardian, or trustee is responsible
249for establishing a trust account for the child performer in the
250child performer's state of residence for the sole benefit of the
251child performer within 7 business days after the child
252performer's employment contract is signed. The child performer
253shall not have access to the trust account until the child
254performer is 18 years of age or becomes legally emancipated.
255     (c)  The parent, legal guardian, or trustee shall provide
256the employer with a trustee statement within 15 days after the
257start of employment. Upon receiving the trustee statement, the
258employer shall provide the parent, legal guardian, or trustee
259with a written acknowledgement of receipt.
260     (d)  If the trustee statement is not provided to the
261employer within 90 days after the start of employment, the
262employer shall refer the matter to the circuit court. The
263circuit court shall have continuing jurisdiction over the trust
264account.
265     (e)  The employer shall deposit not less than 15 percent of
266the child performer's gross earnings directly into the child
267performer's trust account within 15 business days after the
268child has performed. If the account is not established, the
269employer shall withhold 15 percent of the gross income until a
270trust account is established or until the court orders
271otherwise. After the employer deposits 15 percent of the gross
272earnings in the trust account, the employer shall have no
273further obligation to monitor the funds.
274     (f)  After the funds are deposited in the trust account,
275only the trustee is obligated to monitor and account for the
276funds.
277     (6)  SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD PERFORMERS.-
278     (a)  A dressing room may not be occupied simultaneously by
279a child and an adult performer or by children of the opposite
280sex.
281     (b)  It is the responsibility of the employer to provide a
282safe, secure shelter for child performers 17 years of age or
283younger to rest when required to be at the place of employment
284during nonperformance times.
285     (c)  An employer may not cause, induce, entice, or permit a
286child performer to engage in or be used for sexually exploitive
287material for the purpose of producing a performance. A child
288performer may not be depicted in any media as appearing to
289participate in a sex act.
290     (7)  WAGE CLAIMS.-
291     (a)  A determination of which child performer may have an
292attorney appointed in order to assist the child in filing a wage
293claim shall be based on the child's earnings. A child performer
294earning less than one and one-half times the state's average
295weekly wages, as determined by the agency, shall be considered
296financially unable to employ an attorney.
297     (b)  Wage claim forms must be completed in duplicate,
298signed, and notarized.
299     (c)  The agency shall notify the affected employer of any
300wage claim filed against him or her and allow at least 10 days
301for the employer to file a written response. If the employer
302disputes the claim, his or her written response shall be given
303to the child employee's attorney, who shall be allowed 10 days
304in which to rebut the claim in writing.
305     (d)  The agency may schedule an administrative hearing if,
306in its judgment, it would facilitate resolution of the
307complaint. The conduct of the hearing is not governed by the
308Administrative Procedures Act, but rather by procedures
309established by the agency.
310     (e)  The agency may issue a subpoena duces tecum to compel
311the production of records it believes are necessary for the
312resolution of the complaint.
313     (f)  The agency may issue written findings whenever it has
314sufficient evidence upon which to base its determination.
315     (g)  The agency may accept a notarized acknowledgment of
316indebtedness from the employer if the agency believes it is the
317best way to resolve the complaint.
318     (h)  The agency may file complaints in any court in the
319state in order to resolve wage disputes or correct violations
320arising under this section.
321     (i)  The agency shall obtain a written assignment form
322signed by the child performer or his or her attorney and
323notarized before initiating any legal action in any court of any
324jurisdiction after a thorough investigation and determination
325that the claim is valid.
326     (j)  The agency may file a proof of claim on behalf of any
327child performer in any United States bankruptcy court if a child
328performer files a wage claim and if, in the agency's judgment,
329it is appropriate for the resolution of the claim.
330     (8)  NONISSUANCE OR NONRENEWAL OF PREAUTHORIZATION
331CERTIFICATE; REDETERMINATION REQUEST AND PROCEDURES.-
332     (a)  The division director may for cause refuse to issue or
333renew a preauthorization certificate to any project that has
334violated any provision of this section within a 2-year period.
335     (b)  The director shall notify the employer within 10 days
336after the dates requested of a nonissuance or nonrenewal of a
337preauthorization certificate.
338     (c)  Any affected party may request a reconsideration of
339the director's actions, in writing, within 10 days.
340     (d)  The director may schedule an administrative hearing
341if, in his or her judgment, it would facilitate resolution of
342the complaint. The conduct of the hearing is not governed by the
343Administrative Procedures Act, but rather by procedures
344established by the Agency for Workforce Innovation.
345     (e)  The director may issue a subpoena duces tecum to
346compel the production of records he or she believes are
347necessary for the resolution of the complaint.
348     (f)  The director may issue written findings whenever he or
349she has sufficient evidence upon which to base his or her
350determination.
351     Section 2.  For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
352made by this act to section 450.132, Florida Statutes, in a
353reference thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
354450.021, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
355     450.021  Minimum age; general.-
356     (1)  Minors of any age may be employed:
357     (b)  By the entertainment industry as prescribed in ss.
358450.012 and 450.132.
359     Section 3.  For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
360made by this act to section 450.132, Florida Statutes, in a
361reference thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
362562.13, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
363     562.13  Employment of minors or certain other persons by
364certain vendors prohibited; exceptions.-
365     (2)  This section shall not apply to:
366     (b)  Minors employed in the entertainment industry, as
367defined by s. 450.012(5), who have either been granted a waiver
368under s. 450.095 or employed under the terms of s. 450.132 or
369under rules adopted pursuant to either of these sections.
370
371However, a minor to whom this subsection otherwise applies may
372not be employed if the employment, whether as a professional
373entertainer or otherwise, involves nudity, as defined in s.
374847.001, on the part of the minor and such nudity is intended as
375a form of adult entertainment.
376     Section 4.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.