Senate Committee Advances Legislation to Increase Penalties for Child Labor Violations

Bill would increase financial penalties for businesses that violate the law, incentivize reporting and improve transparency

DENVER, CO – The Senate Business, Labor & Technology Committee today passed legislation to ramp up financial penalties for businesses that violate child labor laws.

Under current law, first-time child labor law violators face little-to-no financial consequences. HB24-1095, sponsored by Senator Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial, would update the Colorado Youth Employment Opportunity Act of 1971 and strengthen the penalty structure, raising total employer liability for first-time offenses and for willful or repeated offenses. It would also remove legal disincentives that keep victims of child labor violations from reporting and protect child workers from employer retaliation.

“As child labor protections have been rolled back in different parts of the country, it’s essential we strengthen ours and hold violators accountable,” said Sullivan. “Our current child labor laws are decades out of date, and are no longer serving as the deterrent they were meant to be. This bill is common sense: we can protect youth and whistleblowers while also ensuring businesses operate lawfully.”

Additionally, this bill would strengthen employer transparency by requiring the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) to publish child labor violations or determinations. CDLE must issue a written notice to an employer with a description of penalties and damages owed if the act is violated. All fine revenue would be deposited into the Wage Theft Enforcement Fund, which distributes payments owed to Colorado employees who have filed claims of wage theft.

The bill now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Follow its progress HERE.