09-04-2025
WV House committee advances bill repealing work permits for children
The House Government Organization Committee on Wednesday approved Senate Bill 427 with an amendment from Del. Kayla Young, pictured here. The bill would repeal the work permit process for 14- and 15-year olds in the state. Young's amendment clarifies that an age certificate must include a job description supplied by the employer, not the child seeking employment. (Perry Bennett | West Virginia Legislative Photography)
A bill that would repeal the work permit requirements for West Virginia 14- and 15-year-olds seeking employment is nearing a vote in the House of Delegates.
The House Government Organization Committee on Wednesday signed off on Senate Bill 427 on Wednesday.
The minimum legal age to work in West Virginia is 14. Currently, state law requires 14- and 15-year-olds who want to work to get a permit from their school superintendent. The permit includes age certification, a commitment by the employer to employ the child legally, a description of the work the child is applying to do, a signature by the child's principal saying that they're attending school, and parental consent.
If SB 427 becomes law, employers seeking to hire the teenagers would be required to obtain an age certificate verifying the child's age from the state Division of Labor and the written consent of the child's parent or guardian.
The age certificate would include the child's age, name and date of birth as well as information about the job they're seeking, among other things.
The committee adopted an amendment from Del. Kayla Young, D-Kanawha, that the job description listed on an age certificate be supplied by the employer as opposed to the child.
Brooke Farber, deputy commissioner and counsel for the state Division of Labor, testified that the agency prefers that the job description come from the employer to ensure that the job doesn't violate restrictions on children working in hazardous working conditions. State and federal law prohibits minors from working in certain hazardous occupations, including roofing, mining, operating fork lifts and others.
'We just want to make sure, and a 14 or 15 year old might not necessarily be familiar with a hazardous occupation, so that would be it,' she said.
The bill will next go to the floor of the House of Delegates to be read three times before delegates vote on the bill.
