In a rare demonstration that sensible labor law reform is not only possible but can be achieved in a reasonable amount of time, Illinois Governor George Ryan yesterday signed legislation to make a well-regulated exception to state child labor laws for young umpires who work for summer youth baseball leagues. The new law resolves a conflict first raised less than three months ago when an anonymous call led to a State Labor Department audit of the Darien Youth Club baseball league for paying teenagers under the age of fourteen to umpire and referee games. Under the new law, youth leagues will be allowed to pay twelve and thirteen-year old umps to work up to ten hours a week provided they obtain the proper employment certificate, the umps have a parent or guardian present at the games they are calling, and other regulations protecting the umps physical and educational welfare are met.
See CHRISTI PARSONS and TED GREGORY, Chicago Tribune, June 27, 2002