A new law sponsored by Rep. Andy Olson of Albany was intended to allow teenagers under 16 to work longer hours.

But the Bureau of Labor and Industries says the law doesn't really change anything because while the previous law didn't say so, the longer hours had already been allowed as a matter of practice.

Existing law seems to require a special permit for employers to hire teenagers under 16, but the state Wage and Hour Division said it has been issuing blanket permits to employers.

Sponsored by Rep. Olson and several others, House Bill 2826 passed the legislature last spring. It takes effect next Jan. 1.

It says a child under 16 may be employed until 7 p.m., up from 6 p.m. under current law. Between June 1 and Labor Day, people under 16 may work at their jobs until 9 p.m.

The extent to which the law changes anything was unclear.

Christine Hammond, administrator of the Oregon Wage and Hour Division, said employers used to need individual special permits to hire people under 16, but the law was unclear and has not been enforced for some time.

The same law says children under 16 can't start work before 7 a.m.

The law on starting and quitting times, though, existing as well as amended, does not apply to people working in agriculture, in youth camps or as newspaper carriers, or in private homes for domestic work and child care.

Hammond said the bill was intended to enhance employment opportunities for minors. But she cautioned that federal law also limits labor by anyone under 14.

"We can't do a whole lot of changes at the state level," she said.

Complete child labor regulations are posted on the website of the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries.

Olson said that last year, he met with Karla and Bill Chambers, owners of Stahlbush Island Farms, about several different issues, and " one of the issues Carla mentioned was looking at doing something with the current laws concerning youth hours of employment."

"She felt it was a great idea to provide Oregon youth with an opportunity to gain experience through having a job."

Democrat-Herald