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HomeLabor CodeDiv. 2Pt. 4Ch. 2§ 1309 Minor Employment Violations

§ 1309 Minor Employment Violations

Labor Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 1309 Minor Employment Violations

This law says it's illegal to hire or use kids under 16 (or under 18 in some cases) for certain jobs or activities. If you break this rule, you can get fined or even go to jail.

Key Takeaways

  • •You can't hire or use kids under 16 (or under 18 in some cases) for certain jobs.
  • •If you break this rule, you could get fined between $1,000 and $5,000.
  • •You might even go to jail for up to six months, especially if you've broken this rule before.

Example

A store owner hires a 15-year-old to work late-night shifts.

The store owner could get fined up to $5,000 or even go to jail for six months because hiring a kid under 16 for certain jobs is against the law.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 1309 Minor Employment Violations

Every person who takes, receives, hires, employs, uses, exhibits, or has in custody, for any of the purposes mentioned in Section 1308, any minor under the age of 16, or under the age of 18, as specified in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 1308, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. Any person who willfully violates this section shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or to imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months, or both. A person shall not be imprisoned under this section, except for an offense committed after the conviction of that person for a prior offense under this chapter. (Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 561, Sec. 159. (AB 1516) Effective January 1, 2018.)

Last verified: January 9, 2026

Key Terms

misdemeanorminor under the age of 16willfully violatesfineimprisonment

Related Statutes

  • § 1308 Child Endangerment Penalties
  • § 1303 Employment Of Minors Penalties
  • § 1308.8 Infant Employment Health Certification
  • § 971 Violation Penalties For §970
  • § 1309.5 Minor Sexual Conduct Sales Records

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Labor Code. Section 1309.
View Official Source