Labor Law and Work Permits for New Jersey.
Do you know the child actor labor laws for your state? If you’re looking to pursue a career in entertainment for your child or if you are an entertainment industry professional looking to employ a child in your production, it is important that you know the child actor labor laws in both your home state and any state in which you intend to work.
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YES
The state of New Jersey has extensive laws governing the employment of minors working in theatrical production. Theatrical production includes stage, motion picture, television performances and rehearsals therefor. N.J.S.A. 34:2-21.57 et seq.
Click Here for NJ Child Labor Law Abstract
Click Here for the N.J. Motion Picture and Television Commission
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YES
As stipulated in the New Jersey Child Labor Law [N.J.S.A. 34:2-21.57 through N.J.S.A 34:2-21.64, inclusive], all minors working in Theatrical Productions in New Jersey, whether paid or unpaid, are required to provide their employer with one of the following:
* Theatrical Productions Permit – if the minor is under 16 years of age (Form A-310)
* An Employment Certificate – if the minor is age 16 to 18 years old (Form A-300)
Click Here for Minor Theatrical Production Requirements and Instructions
To obtain permits/certificates, child performers need to visit a New Jersey State School Issuing Officer in person with a completed application form (either A-300 or A-310 above).
* New Jersey Resident: Acquire Special Permit or from the minor’s local School District Issuing Officer where the minor resides.
* Non-Resident: Acquire from the local School District Issuing Officer where the production will take place. School district locations can be found at www.nj.gov/education.
Required Documentation:
1. Proof of Age
2. Proof of recent physical
3. Under age 8 – Visual Acuity Test
4. Non-Citizen – Permit to work in this country
5. Parental Permission letter
* Authorizing minor to work on production
* Designating by name the adult parent, guardian or company representative who will be responsible for the direct care of the minor and responsible for the supervision of the minor at all times on set or while the minor is living away from home as an incident of such employment.
6. Letter from School Principal stating that the parent and school have discussed “equivalent education” for the time the minor is required to attend school, and the parent is aware of school work required. Note: If the school advises the parent that a tutor is necessary, then the production company must supply the tutor from the date required by the school principal.
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YES
The State of New Jersey requires any production company employing a minor to complete the Theatrical Production Application Form. Employers must:
* Include details on dates, times, locations and what the minor will be doing.
* Maintain copies of Minor Entertainment Permit or Certificate
* Keep all time/payroll records
* Forward copies (preferably by mail) of all documentation to the N.J. Department of Labor Prior to the start of production.
Click here for Theatrical Production Application & Instructions
If the minor’s participation in production is less than two days, it is possible to obtain an “Emergent Theatrical Permit”. Applicants applying for an “Emergent” permit can disregard the sections related to getting formal permits, and only fill out the sections relevant to the requirements for obtaining Emergent Theatrical Permits.
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NO
We can find no evidence of any blocked trust account requirements in the state of New Jersey.
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YES
If the production will be conducted on a school day, it is the parent’s responsibility to contact the school that the minor attends and determine with the minor’s teacher and principal what “equivalent education” will be necessary. The principal should put this in writing in the form of a letter to the parent which the parent can then give to the N.J. School Issuing Officer and the production company representative. If the principal requires a tutor to satisfy the “equivalent education” standard in the New Jersey Child Labor Law, then the production company must supply the tutor from the date required by the school principal.
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NO
The state of New Jersey does not require talent agents to hold talent agency licenses, employment agency licenses or to be bonded by the state.
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NO
The state of New Jersey does not recognize graduated minors as “legal 18”.
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New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Division of Wage and Hour Compliance
Juliany Torres
P.O. Box 389
1 John Fitch Plaza, 3rd Floor
Trenton, NJ 08625
PH: (609) 292-7880
FAX: (609) 695-1174
Juliany.Torres@dol.nj.govNew Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission
Attn: Steve Gorlick
153 Halsey Street – 5th Floor
P.O. Box 47023
Newark, NJ 07101
PH: (973) 648-6279
FAX: (973) 648-7350
Email: njfilm@sos.nj.gov