SB390

Senate Bill 390 strengthens Arkansas child labor laws by increasing civil penalties for violations from a range of $50-$1,000 to $100-$5,000 per violation. The bill extends the statute of limitations for the assessment of these penalties from two years to three years. It introduces new criminal penalties for employers who knowingly violate child labor statutes, ranging from a Class C misdemeanor for initial violations to a Class C felony for repeat offenses involving the serious physical injury or death of a minor. Furthermore, the bill establishes specific civil penalties for employers who hinder labor investigations or falsify employment records. Finally, the bill clarifies and reinforces the requirement that workers' compensation benefits must be doubled if a minor is injured or killed while employed in violation of state or federal child labor laws.