SPRINGFIELD (WGEM) – Illinois lawmakers are one step closer to overhauling the state’s child labor laws. The state House Labor and Commerce Committee passed a bill Wednesday modernizing child labor laws.

The bill would substantially update the state’s child labor laws for the first time in nearly 75 years.

An initiative of the Illinois Department of Labor, agency officials argue piecemeal changes over the years have created outdated, conflicting and disjointed provisions in state law.

“Were trying to just create a whole new bill, gut and replace it, and allow for an easier new way to manage the bill and understand and so employers and everyone else can understand it. I think right now it just creates a lot of unnecessary misunderstandings for a bill that is very important in protecting the vulnerable,” said state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, the bill’s House sponsor.

The bill would ban kids from working in jobs not covered 75 years ago. Those include working in cannabis shops and adult entertainment facilities.

It also limits the number of hours kids 15 and younger can work weekly to 18 hours during school weeks and 40 hours when school is not in session.

It passed along party lines in committee. Opponents expressed concerns about the hour limitations.

The state Senate passed the bill unanimously on April 10.

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