H.R. 7002: Justice for Exploited Children Act

The bill, titled the "Justice for Exploited Children Act," seeks to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, specifically to increase penalties for violations related to child labor. The key provisions of the bill can be summarized as follows:

Increased Criminal Penalties

The bill proposes to enhance criminal penalties for individuals who violate child labor laws. Specifically:

• For a person who repeatedly or willfully violates certain provisions related to child labor, they could face:
• A fine of up to $100,000, imprisonment for up to 5 years, or both.
• If a violation leads to the death or serious injury of a worker under the age of 18, the penalties become more severe:
• A fine of up to $500,000, imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both.

Increased Civil Penalties

The bill also revises civil penalties for child labor violations. The changes include:

• The minimum civil penalty for violations is set between $1,000 and $150,000, with the possibility of doubling the penalty if the violation is repeated or willful.
• If a violation results in the death of a worker under 18, the civil penalty is established at not less than $50,000 and not more than $601,150, also subject to doubling for repeated or willful violations.

Effective Date

The changes proposed in this bill would take effect for violations occurring on or after the date the bill becomes law.

Relevant Companies

None found