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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 20, 2024 01:45 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Dan Moul |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Transfer Oversight of Minors Volunteering with Emergency Services Organizations from L&I to the State Fire Commissioner |
| I am preparing to introduce legislation that will transfer oversight and regulation of minors serving their communities in volunteer emergency services organizations from the Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) to the Office of the State Fire Commissioner, whose position and experience in that realm of emergency services will allow them to manage the minor’s volunteer role in these organizations in a more reasonable and decisive manner. Over the past few months, many legislative offices have experienced a major increase in inquiries from local volunteer fire companies regarding the Department of Labor and Industry’s (L&I) child labor law enforcement. Although the governor recently requested funding for twelve new enforcement positions within the Bureau of Labor Law Compliance, the current complement seems to be prioritizing enforcement against volunteer emergency organizations. In many cases, overzealous enforcement is for minor violations that are unrelated to the safety of the minors. For example, L&I recently visited the organizers of a summer camp for volunteer youths to demand that the organizers obtain work permits for minors attending the camp. Although minors who volunteer with fire companies and other similar organizations are not paid, they fall under the jurisdiction of the state Child Labor Act, which is structured to govern minors in paid employment. By contrast, volunteer emergency services organizations work with minors who wish to involve themselves in their community efforts such as helping with local chicken barbecues and cleaning up debris hours after the scene of a fire was cleared. It makes little sense to regulate volunteer service like paid employment – a distinction recognized by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. This is why my bill will transfer the regulation of minors volunteering with local emergency services organizations to the appropriate agency – the State Fire Commissioner - L&I was never a good fit for this task. To be clear, my bill will not remove safety restrictions or all regulation of minors who volunteer with emergency services organizations – my proposal will simply move the enforcement to a more appropriate agency and provide relief from some of the non-safety requirements that should only be applicable to minors engaged in paid work. Fire companies and other volunteer emergency services organizations are the backbones of our local communities and provide a critical service to residents both within and outside of their jurisdiction. The last thing they need is a visit from the Bureau of Labor Law Compliance to hassle them about their paperwork or other inconsequential infractions. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation so that we can continue to support our volunteer firefighters and help raise the next generation to continue keeping our communities safe and secure. |