H.B. 551 Summary

• Allows minors aged 16-17 to work in construction and manufacturing occupations if they complete required safety training, exempting them from general hazardous occupation prohibitions.

• Requires employers to provide minors aged 16-17 a ten-hour OSHA-approved safety course, tool operation instructions, workplace hazard information, safety commitment education, and drug testing policy details before any work activity.

• Permits minors to take an optional 30-hour OSHA-approved safety course as an alternative to the ten-hour course if previously completed.

• Directs the Director of Commerce to adopt rules specifying which tools minors aged 16-17 may operate after completing training, using federal wage and hour guidelines as reference.

• Establishes civil penalty of up to $1,730 per violation for employers who permit untrained minors to operate tools or allow operation of federally prohibited tools.