Farm jobs would generally require workers to be at least 14

Employers would generally be barred from hiring children under 14. These rules would cover farm jobs and other work. Parent exceptions would also cover someone acting as a parent. Work at ages 14 and 15 would require a Labor Department finding that it would not disrupt schooling or harm health or well-being. At ages 16 and 17, jobs the department designates dangerous or harmful would be barred. Children under 18 working for a parent on a farm that parent owns would be exempt outside local school hours. Children under 16 working for a parent would also be exempt, except in manufacturing, mining, or jobs officials find especially dangerous for ages 16–17 or harmful to children's health or well-being. The age rules would apply to violations occurring after federal implementing rules take effect.

The Labor Department would have to write rules barring pesticide-handling jobs for workers under 18. The ban would cover tasks listed in the federal pesticide-handler definition when the bill becomes law. The proposal does not clearly explain how this ban fits with exceptions for children working for parents. Stronger state worker protections would still apply. Officials would have 30 days after enactment to revise the rules. The ban would apply to violations after implementing rules take effect.

Employers would face fines. People responsible for certain violations could also face criminal punishment. These penalties would cover federal child labor violations across industries. For penalties tied to harm, the worker must be under 18 when the violation occurs. Ordinary employer fines would be $500–$15,000 per affected child. Violations causing serious injury, serious illness, or death would carry fines of $15,000–$60,115 each. Those fines could double for repeated or deliberate violations, which could also bring up to five years in prison, a criminal fine, or both. For employer fines, any health condition caused by a workplace event or exposure would count as serious illness. Illnesses from events or exposures on the employer's property would be presumed work-related. These penalties would apply to violations occurring after federal implementing rules take effect.

Farm employers would report serious work injuries, illnesses, and deaths involving employees under 18. The reporting duty would cover agricultural employees under 18. Reports would identify the employer and child and describe the incident. Failure to report could bring fines of $500–$7,000 per violation. Any health condition caused by a workplace event or exposure would count as a serious illness for reporting. Employers would report within five days of an injury, discovery of illness, or death. Reporting would start when implementing rules are issued or six months after enactment, whichever comes first.