Indiana lawmaker who employs hundreds of minors pushes to scrap state child labor laws

Kaitlin Lange, Indianapolis Star Published 6:03 a.m. ET Jan. 28, 2019 | Updated 6:46 a.m. ET Jan. 28, 2019

A lawmaker who employees hundreds of minors at an Indiana ski resort is pushing to scrap all state child labor laws, which is raising questions about whether his role in such an effort is a conflict of interest.

Senate Bill 342 — filed by Republican state Sen. Chip Perfect, the CEO of Perfect North Slopes — would get rid of work permit requirements for minors and remove all restrictions on what hours 16- and 17-year-old Hoosiers can work.

While federal child labor laws offer greater protections for those under 16, they barely touch on work requirements for older teens, aside from wages.

Perfect, of Lawrenceburg, said the resort employs anywhere from 300 to 400 minors, and his human resources director testified in favor of the bill during a committee hearing last week, raising questions about whether his involvement in the legislation is a conflict of interest.

Stephanie McFarland, spokeswoman for the stateDepartment of Labor, said Perfect North had no violations during its most recent inspection, in 2018. However, child labor law changes would mean Perfect North and other companies could more easily hire minors and give them more hours.

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https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/28/lawmaker-who-owns-perfect-north-slopes-pushes-end-state-child-labor-laws/2657091002/