Sec. 1. 26 MRSA §773, first ¶, as amended by PL 1997, c. 353, §1, is further amended to read:

A minor under 16 years of age may not be employed, permitted or suffered to work in, about or in connection with any manufacturing or mechanical establishment, hotel, rooming house, laundry, except those commonly known as automatic laundries, dry cleaning establishments, bakery, bowling alley, poolroom, commercial places of amusement, including traveling shows and circuses, or in any theater or moving picture house or in conjunction with an amusement, game or show that allows or conducts betting. The provisions of this section pertaining to theaters do not apply to nonprofit moving image archives or nonprofit community theaters, and do not apply to minors under 16 years of age who are employed or in training as theatrical actors or film actors.

SUMMARY

Under current law, a minor under 16 years of age may not work in any theater or moving picture house. This bill specifically exempts from that prohibition nonprofit moving image archives and nonprofit community theaters.