by Lori Kersey, West Virginia Watch
February 28, 2025
A bill advancing in the West Virginia Legislature would allow 14- and 15-year-olds to work without first obtaining a work permit.
The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 427 Friday.
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 bill would not change the law that prohibits children under 18 from working in certain dangerous jobs, such as logging or demolition, according to Senate Workforce Committee Chair Sen. Rollan Roberts, R-Raleigh.
“Overall, the bill would make it easier for teenagers seeking job opportunities in the state to begin learning valuable skills,” Roberts said.
The House of Delegates passed a similar bill last year, but the bill did not make it through the Senate.
Opponents of the legislation argued that repealing the work permit process could leave some children open to exploitation by their parents.
The bill will next go to the House of Delegates for consideration.
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West Virginia Watch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. West Virginia Watch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Leann Ray for questions: info@westvirginiawatch.com.
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