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S 4340

Establishes the new American homebuyer assistance program within the state of New York mortgage agency

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Leroy Comrie

NJ bill tightens child-labor rules for minors in theater: sets age-based daily limits, mandates on-set schooling, and creates a separate theater-permit registration system.

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Bill Summary · S 4340

Bill summary — S.4340 (1st Reprint) — Child labor in theatrical productions (New Jersey)

Note: the supplied bill title (about a New York homebuyer assistance program) does not match the bill text and documents provided. This summary is based on the legislative text, committee statement, and fiscal estimate supplied — which amend New Jersey child labor law for minors employed in theatrical productions.

Main purpose

To revise New Jersey’s child labor statutes for minors working in theatrical productions by:
- specifying age-based daily work limits (different for school days and non‑school days),
- strengthening schooling/tutoring requirements for working minors,
- creating an independent registration/permit system for theatrical permits,
- clarifying permissible hours and supervisory requirements,
and to align requirements with practices in California, New York and Screen Actors Guild guidance.

Key provisions

  • Age- and day-specific work time limits:
    • Ages 6 to under 9: up to 4 hours on a school day; 6 hours on a non‑school day; time on set ≤ 8 hours.
    • Ages 9 to under 16: up to 5 hours on a school day; 7 hours on a non‑school day; time on set ≤ 9 hours.
    • Ages 16 to under 18: up to 6 hours on a school day; 9 hours on a non‑school day; time on set ≤ 10 hours.
  • Workday window: on a day preceding a non‑school day, minors may be employed between 5:00 a.m. and 12:30 a.m..
  • Shows/productions limits: no more than 2 shows/productions per day and 8 per week (where separable into discrete shows); employment ≤ 6 days per week.
  • Tutoring/education:
    • Employer must provide a tutor who gives 3 hours of schooling per missed school day, beginning from the third missed school day through the remainder of employment.
    • Tutor may allow the minor one additional hour on a school day and up to four additional hours on holidays; such extra hours may be counted toward weekly schooling requirements in the same calendar week.
  • Permit/registration system:
    • Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DLWD) must create and maintain a registration system for theatrical production permits separate from the general minors’ registration database.
    • Parent/guardian creates one account (minor may access but not operate it).
    • Parent/guardian may apply for a multi-employer / multi-production permit valid one year; employers may still apply for single-production permits with parent consent.
  • Administrative flexibilities:
    • Commissioner may alter hours (but not total daily hours) in limited cases for significant productions if not detrimental to the minor’s welfare.
    • During a state/public health emergency, in-person appearance requirements may be satisfied via audiovisual means.
  • Effective date: first day of the seventh month after enactment; commissioner may take anticipatory administrative action.

Who is affected

  • Primary: minors (ages 6–17) employed in theatrical, film, television, or related productions, and their parents/guardians.
  • Employers: production companies, studios, casting entities, and employers who hire minors for theatrical work.
  • State agencies: Department of Labor and Workforce Development; Motion Picture & Television Development Commission; Department of the Treasury (for fiscal impacts).
  • Indirect: schools and tutors contracted for on‑set education; state funds receiving payroll-related revenues.

Fiscal and operational impact

  • Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimate: indeterminate annual increase in State revenues (potentially small) to the Property Tax Relief Fund, Unemployment Insurance Compensation Fund, Workforce Development Partnership Fund, and State Disability Benefits Fund, driven by any increase in minors’ wages.
  • Indeterminate (likely small) annual State expenditures for DLWD to establish and maintain the separate theatrical-permit registration system and permit administration.
  • No executive fiscal note was provided; OLS prepared estimate (dated Sept. 17, 2025).

Procedural status & timeline

  • Introduced: May 12, 2025 (sponsor: Sen. Leroy Comrie).
  • Referred to Senate Labor Committee; reported out with committee amendments on June 5, 2025 (committee amendments clarified tutoring after three missed school days and specified school/day-hour maximums).
  • Referred to Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee and Corporations, Authorities and Commissions (multiple referrals listed).
  • Related/companion bills: A.3045 / A.5588; prior-session S.2812, S.2883, S.5824, S.7663.

This bill modernizes and standardizes the rules for minors in theatrical work by setting clearer daily and on‑set limits, formalizing education/tutoring obligations, and streamlining permitting through a dedicated registration system.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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