Sec. 1. 14 MRSA §1522, sub-§1, ¶K, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 9, Pt. G, §2, is repealed.

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §5054, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 415, §26, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

§5054.__Employment of truants prohibited

Any firm or corporation, or agent or manager of any firm or corporation, who hires or otherwise engages any student who is habitually truant as defined in this subchapter without a release from the student's supervising superintendent of schools is subject to the following fines:

1.__First violation.__For the first violation or a violation not subject to a sanction under subsection 2 or 3, a fine of not less than $250 and not more than $5,000;

2.__Second violation.__For a 2nd violation occurring within 3 years of a prior violation, a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $5,000; or

3.__Third and subsequent violation.__For a 3rd and subsequent violation occurring within 3 years of 2 or more prior violations, a fine of not less than $2,000 and not more than $10,000.

Sec. 3. 26 MRSA §772, as repealed and replaced by PL 2003, c. 59, §1, is repealed.

Sec. 4. 26 MRSA §772-A is enacted to read:

§772-A.__Employment of minors

1. Prohibition against certain employment.__A minor under 18 years of age may not be employed in any capacity except in accordance with rules adopted by the director pursuant to this section.

2. Rules.__The director shall adopt rules governing the employment of minors under 18 years of age that conform to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, 29 United States Code, Sections 203, 211, 212 and 218 and to federal regulations adopted pursuant to those sections, including, but not limited to, 29 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 570.