Student volunteering not only affords children and young adults the feelings of accomplishment and pride in themselves, but it also helps them learn problem-solving skills, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service. Student volunteers in California can find rewarding work in a variety of areas; however, child labor laws apply to volunteers as well as paid employees, and employers must adhere to these laws or face serious repercussions.
School Days
In California, a school day is defined as any day school is in session for at least four hours. On school days, 12- and 13-year-olds cannot volunteer before, during or after school. Fourteen- and 15-year-olds may volunteer up to three hours either before or after school, but not during school hours; 16- and 17-year-olds may volunteer up to four hours daily before or after school, but not during school hours. Fourteen-, 15-, 16- and 17-year-olds must have completed seventh grade to volunteer during the portion of the year that schools are in session.
Non-school Days
On non-school days, 12- 13-, 14- and 15-year-olds may volunteer up to eight hours each day, up to a maximum of 40 hours each week. Sixteen- and 17-year-olds may volunteer up to eight hours each day, with a maximum of 48 hours each week.
Time Limits
In California, 12-, 13-, 14- and 15-year-olds may volunteer between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. from Labor Day until June 1. From June 1 until Labor Day, the hours are extended from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. Sixteen- and 17-year-olds can volunteer between the hours of 5 a.m. and 10 p.m., with the ending time extended to 12:30 a.m. on evenings before a non-school day.
Prohibited Activities
According to the California child labor laws, volunteers under the age of 18 in California may not work in hazardous areas or positions, including: logging; saw milling; roofing; slaughtering, meatpacking, processing or rendering; operation of power-driven bakery machines; the manufacture or storage of explosives; the manufacture of brick or tile; coal mining; the operation of power-driven woodworking machines; the operation of power-driven saws or shears; excavation; the operation of power-driven paper products machinery; any environment involving exposure to radioactive substances; the operation of forklifts; wrecking and demolition.
Violations
Violating the allowable work hours of the child labor laws, a class B violation, can result in a $500 fine per volunteer for the first offense and a $1,000 fine per volunteer for the second offense. Third and subsequent offenses become a class A violation, subject to a fine not less than $5,000 and not more than $10,000.
Allowing minors to volunteer in prohibited activities is a Class A violation punishable by a fine of no less than $5,000 and no more than $10,000 per minor, per offense. In addition, violations typically include misdemeanor criminal charges and may result in imprisonment in county jail for up to six months.
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