In this subtitle, “minor” means an individual who is under the age of 18 years.

The policy of the State is to encourage the development of minors by allowing them to engage in occupations that prepare them for responsible citizenship, yet to protect them from occupations that will be injurious to their mental, moral, or physical welfare.

This subtitle does not apply to an activity that a minor performs if the activity: is performed outside the school hours set for that minor; does not involve manufacturing or mining; is not a hazardous occupation restricted under § 3–213(c)(1) or (2) of this subtitle for that minor; and is limited to: farm work that is performed on a farm; domestic work that is performed in or about a home; work that is performed in a business that a parent of the minor or a person standing in place of the parent owns or operates; caddying on a golf course; instructing on an instructional sailboat; delivery of newspapers to consumers; making an evergreen wreath in or about a home; work performed as a counselor, assistant counselor, or instructor in a youth camp certified under the Maryland Youth Camp Act; or work that is performed as an unpaid volunteer in a charitable or nonprofit organization, if: a parent of the minor or a person standing in the place of the parent consents in writing; and for hazardous work in a volunteer fire department or company or volunteer rescue squad, the minor: is at least 16 years old; and has completed or is taking a course of study about fire fighting or rescue.

For purposes of this subtitle and during reasonable business hours, the Commissioner may: enter and inspect a place of employment; inspect the employment records of an employee; or question any employee.

Unless an employer possesses a work or special permit for a minor, the minor may not work for the employer.

A parent or guardian of a minor may apply for a work permit by completing an online application that includes: verification of the minor’s age; a description of the work to be performed by the minor; approval by the parent or guardian of the minor’s employment; and any other information the Commissioner may require. After reviewing an online application for a work permit, the Commissioner may issue the permit if the employment is allowed under this subtitle for the minor for whom the permit is sought. The Commissioner may issue a work permit that authorizes a minor to be employed in an occupation that otherwise would be restricted under § 3–213 of this subtitle, if the minor: is exempted, under § 7–301(d)(2)(i) of the Education Article, from attendance in public school because the emotional, mental, or physical condition of the minor makes instruction detrimental to the progress of the minor; is to be employed only in office work; is to be employed in work that is performed outside of all rooms where goods are manufactured or processed; or is to be employed in work that a county school system obtains and supervises as part of a work–study, student–learner, or similar program for which the employment is an integral part of the course of study. The Commissioner shall issue a work permit that authorizes a minor to be employed: in an occupation that otherwise would be restricted under § 3–213 of this subtitle if the minor is granted an exception by the Commissioner because, after investigation, the Commissioner determines that neither the work nor the work site where the work is to be performed is hazardous to the minor; or in an occupation that otherwise would be restricted under § 3–213(c)(1) or (2) of this subtitle, if the minor: has completed a course of study in that occupation at an accredited school and has been graduated from the school; or is granted an exception by the Commissioner because employment in that occupation is part of a work–study, student–learner, or apprentice program under a federal, State, or local governmental agency. Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Commissioner shall release the name, home address, and telephone number of a minor who is at least 16 years old and has a work permit to the following organizations that request and have registered with the Department for the purpose of receiving the information: employers and apprenticeship sponsors; educational programs and institutions; and local workforce development boards that have systems to share the information with employers, apprenticeship sponsors, and educational programs and institutions that register with the local workforce development board for the purpose of receiving the information. The Commissioner may release information relating to a minor only if a parent or guardian of the minor or the minor elects to allow the sharing of the information. The Department shall adopt regulations necessary to carry out this subsection, including the process by which a parent or guardian of the minor or the minor may opt in to the sharing of information under paragraph (2) of this subsection.

Subject to this section, the Commissioner may issue a special permit for a minor of any age to be employed as an entertainer, model, or performer. An applicant for a special permit shall submit to the Commissioner a completed application on the form that the Commissioner provides. The Commissioner shall issue a special permit if, after investigation, the Commissioner is satisfied that: the employment will not be detrimental to the health or welfare of the minor; the minor will be supervised adequately; and the education of the minor will not be neglected. A special permit shall contain notarized signatures that show the consent of: a parent of the minor or a person standing in place of the parent; and the employer.

A work permit or special permit authorizes a minor to work for an employer as specified in the permit.

Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, a minor under the age of 14 years may not be employed or allowed to be employed.

A minor may not be employed or allowed to be employed for more than 5 consecutive hours without a nonworking period of at least one-half hour. Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, in a calendar day: the total school and work hours of a minor may not exceed 12 hours; and the minor shall have at least 8 consecutive hours that are not school or work hours. The Commissioner may grant to a minor an exception to the restrictions in subsection (a)(2) of this section if the Commissioner determines that there will be no hazard to the health or welfare of the minor. A minor who is 16 or 17 years old and serves as an election judge, under § 10–202 of the Election Law Article, may work more than 12 hours on an early voting day or on election day only, subject to consent from at least one parent or guardian.

Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a minor under the age of 16 years may not be employed or allowed to be employed: before 7:00 a.m.; from the day after Labor Day through the day before Memorial Day, after 8:00 p.m.; from Memorial Day through Labor Day, after 9:00 p.m.; or more than: 4 hours on a day when school is in session; 8 hours on a day when school is not in session; 23 hours in a week when school is in session for 5 days; or 40 hours in a week when school is not in session. The hours of work allowed under paragraph (1)(iv) of this subsection do not include any hours that a minor works in a bona fide work-study or student-learner program while school normally is in session. The Commissioner may grant to a minor an exception to the restrictions under this section if the Commissioner: receives the written consent of a parent of the minor or a person standing in the place of the parent; and determines that: there will be no hazard to the health or welfare of the minor; and granting the exception will not impede the minor in fulfilling school graduation requirements.

This section does not apply to a minor who: is a child of the manager, operator, or owner of the business establishment from or to which a check, money, or negotiable instrument is being transported; or is transporting a check, money, or negotiable instrument that the minor received as payment for merchandise that the minor delivered or for a service that the minor performed. A minor may not be employed, between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., to transport to or from a business establishment checks, money, or negotiable instruments, including payroll funds or business receipts. A minor may not be employed, between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., to transport to or from a business establishment checks, money, or negotiable instruments that have a value in excess of $100.

Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, a minor may not be employed or allowed to work: in, about, or in connection with the manufacturing of a hazardous substance; in, about, or in connection with: a blast furnace; a distillery where an alcoholic beverage is manufactured, bottled, wrapped, or packed; a railroad; an engineer, firefighter, or pilot on a vessel that is engaged in commerce; or a dock or wharf other than a marina where pleasure vessels are sold or served; or in, about, or in connection with: the erection or repair of an electrical wire; the cleaning, oiling, or wiping of machinery; or an occupation that is prohibited by law. Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, a minor under the age of 16 may not be employed or allowed to work: during the school hours set for that minor; about or in connection with an acid, dye, gas, lye, or paint; at, about, or in connection with: an airport; a brickyard; a lumberyard; a workroom or work site where goods are manufactured or processed; scaffolding; or a vessel when engaged in navigation or commerce; or in, about, or in connection with: construction; an occupation that causes dust in an injurious quantity; a manufacturing occupation; a mechanical occupation; a processing occupation; or the adjustment, cleaning, or operation of power-driven machinery except: an office machine; or machinery used in a school or government institution as part of vocational training. The Commissioner may prohibit minors being employed in an occupation if: after a public hearing, the Commissioner determines that employment in the occupation should be prohibited to minors; the Commissioner adopts by reference a determination by the United States Secretary of Labor under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 that the occupation is hazardous; or after investigation, the Commissioner determines that the occupation is injurious to: the health or welfare of minors; or the morals of minors under the age of 16 years.

Each employer shall keep posted conspicuously in each place where a minor is employed a printed notice of the provisions of this subtitle, in a form that the Commissioner requires.

After review, the Commissioner may revoke a work permit or special permit if the permit is not issued in accordance with the requirements of the Commissioner.

A person may not: interfere with or hinder the performance of any duty of the Commissioner under this subtitle; or knowingly give false information to the Commissioner. A person may not knowingly: employ a minor in violation of a provision of this subtitle; or allow a minor to be employed in violation of a provision of this subtitle. A person who violates any provision of subsection (a) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or both. A person who violates any provision of subsection (b) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or both.

The Commissioner may assess a civil penalty against a person who: violates § 3–216(a) or (b) of this subtitle; or willfully or repeatedly employs a minor in violation of § 3–213 of this subtitle. Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a civil penalty assessed under subsection (a)(1) of this section may not exceed: before July 15, 2027, $16,035 for each violation; or beginning July 15, 2027, the amount set by the Commissioner under subsection (c) of this section for each violation. A civil penalty assessed under subsection (a)(2) of this section may not exceed: before July 15, 2027, $72,876 for each violation; or beginning July 15, 2027, the amount set by the Commissioner under subsection (c) of this section for each violation. Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, beginning January 1, 2027, and each calendar year thereafter, the Commissioner shall increase the maximum penalties in effect under subsection (a) of this section by increasing each civil penalty amount by the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers or a successor index published by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics as necessary to comply with federal law. The adjustment under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be effective July 15 each year. A civil penalty under this section shall be paid into the General Fund of the State.