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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 29, 2024 11:07 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Joseph D'Orsie |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Directing fines from child labor violations to benefit the impacted children |
| In a recent press release, the Department of Labor and Industry boasted about fining a fast-food franchisee $300,000 for hundreds of child labor violations. Unfortunately, not a dime of this money will go to support the more than 80 children who were the subjects of these violations by an unscrupulous employer. Instead, the money will go to the state general fund to support the behemoth $45 billion state budget. So, when a company exploits child labor, the state gets a jackpot, and the children get nothing. That's simply unjust. I am preparing to introduce legislation to fix this impropriety and redirect this money to benefit the children who were subjects of child labor violations by an employer. My bill will direct the Department of Labor and Industry, in cooperation with the State Treasurer, to make reasonable efforts to determine whether there are any 529 accounts, accounts used to pay for nonpublic school tuition costs, long-term investment or savings accounts, or other depository accounts in the child’s name. If an account has been established for the benefit of the child, the money will be deposited in the account. If the child does not have an appropriate account, the money will be provided to the child, through their parent or legal guardian, along with information on how to set up a 529 account to save the money for the child’s college or career education. When a company commits child labor violations, the fines from administrative penalties should be directed to the benefit of the children who were taken advantage of. For many children, this will mean depositing the money in a 529 account or another long-term investment account to benefit the child – or using the money to help pay the tuition at a nonpublic school. For other children in families who are struggling financially, this may mean they are able to finally begin saving for college or career educational expenses. I hope you will join me as a cosponsor to make this important change. This money will be a drop in the bucket of the state budget, but it could make a world of difference to many Pennsylvania families and working minors. |
Introduced as HB2118