BILL NUMBER: S9624

SPONSOR: COONEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the labor law, in relation to a minimum operator age for
amusement devices

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. The labor is amended by adding a new section 870-p to require
the Department of Labor to promulgate regulations to lower the minimum
age required to operate all amusement park devices.

Section 2. is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Amusement parks play an integral role as significant drivers of tourism
in every corner of New York State. Both large and small parks draw visi-
tors from across state lines, and are in many instances a historical
mainstay of that community. Almost all businesses in the tourism and
              

hospitality industries have struggled with labor shortages in recent
years, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic.  Amusement parks have
the additional challenge of being limited to only hiring adults, for the
operation of certain amusement park devices. The "peak" season for these
parks goes well into the fall, long after college age employees return
to school. Because of this, New York State's amusement parks are often
times forced to limit their days/hours of operation, due to the lack of
staff available to operate rides. New Jersey passed legislation lowering
the age, which puts New York's amusement parks at a significant compet-
itive disadvantage. Last year, Governor Hochul signed legislation reduc-
ing the minimum age to become a lifeguard from 16 to 15, in response to
the shortage of eligible employees. This legislation would create a
similar solution, and provide amusement parks with the ability to hire
sixteen year olds to operate all amusement devices. Current law only
allows for sixteen year olds to operate rides that are meant for small
children who are accompanied by an adult, and requires all other rides
to be operated by those over the age of 18. This law is outdated,
particularly since almost all amusement devices are controlled by
systems that have safety features built in. Lowering the age to operate
amusement devices to 16 would open up the pool of eligible employees for
these parks, thereby benefiting the community and the overall economic
health of the region.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.