Child Performer
New York State law requires that:
- All employers of child performers to have a valid Certificate of Eligibility to Employ Child Performers from the State Labor Department
- All child performers they employ have a valid Employment Permit for a Child Performer from the State Labor Department
The employer must:
- Get a Certificate of Eligibility to Employ Child Performers LS-550 (valid for three years) before they employ any child performers
- Renew this certificate before it expires
- Read and understand Regulations Part 186 Child Performers
- Make trust account transfers for paid employment to the performer’s trust account, or to the NYS Comptroller if the parent/guardian did not provide the trust account information
- Provide a teacher to performers as required
- Maintain proper records and keep permits and certificate on file
- Obtain emergency contact information and authorization to perform emergency medical treatment from parent/guardian of performers (LS 563)
- Designate a responsible person(s) as required for performers under age 16 and provide a nurse(s) for infants, or obtain written designation from parent/guardian as required
- Provide safety and health information to performers, parents/guardians and responsible persons
- Provide meal and rest breaks and abide by permitted working hours for child performersThe parent or guardian of the child performer must:
The Group Employer must:
- Read and understand Regulations Part 186 Child Performers
- Make trust account transfers for paid employment to the performer’s trust account, or to the NYS Comptroller if the parent/guardian did not provide the trust account information
- Obtain performer information, emergency contact information, authorization to perform emergency medical treatment, and permission to perform from parent/guardian of performers (LS 563)
- Maintain proper records, keep performer information and certificate(s) on file
- Designate at least one responsible person for every 20 performers, or fraction thereof, under age 16 and also provide a nurse(s) for infants as required
- Provide safety and health information to performers, parents/guardians and responsible persons
- Provide meal and rest breaks and abide by permitted working hours for child performers
The parent or guardian of the child performer must:
- Get a Child Performer Permit before work begins, and give a copy to each employer.
- Provide all required documentation with the 1-year permit application for example: school form, health form and trust account form.
- Renew the permit for the child performer 30 days prior to expiration.
- Establish a child performer trust account, unless one already exists.
- Notify the child performer's employer of:
- the existence of the account including any information needed to make transfers
- any change in facts that could affect the employer's obligation to make transfers
- if they wish to transfer more than 15% of the child performer's gross earnings to the trust account
- Appoint a trust company as custodian of the account once the balance reaches $250,000
- Work with the child performer, any certified teacher provided by the employer and with the child's school to make sure that the child maintains good academic performance
- Make sure that a child performer required to attend school is not without a teacher and unemployed for longer than ten (10) consecutive days while the school is in session