Law Allowing 15-Year-Olds To Work Lapses

HARTFORD (AP) – A state law that allowed 15-year-olds to work in grocery stores as baggers, shelf stockers and cashiers has expired, apparently because lawmakers forgot to renew it.

The 20-year-old law had to be renewed every five years, and lawmakers didn’t do that last session, allowing it to expire on Oct. 1.

“New 15-year-olds will have to wait until we convene for the next session,” said state Sen. Edith G. Prague, D-Columbia, the co-chair of the legislature’s labor committee.

Those 15-year-olds who had working papers from their school guidance offices prior to Sept. 30, may still continue working in grocery stores, she said.

Carrie Anastasiades, executive director of the Connecticut Food Association, which represents grocers and supermarkets, said she does not know how many 15-year-olds are working, or normally apply to work at grocery stores.

“Fifteen-year-olds don’t amount to a significant portion of those who work as cashiers and baggers, but they do work,” she said.

State work rules prohibit 15-year-olds from touching meet slicers or other machinery and their work hours are limited to three hours on school days and eight hours on weekends and school vacations.

There are some other options. State law says kids as young as 14 can work as golf caddies; in agriculture; hospitals, convalescent homes, hotels and motels except food service and laundry work; for summer camps; and baby-sitting, newspaper delivery and household chores.