Protecting Children Act

The Protecting Children Act increases penalties for employers who violate child labor laws, with higher civil fines and stronger criminal penalties for violations that endanger children. It creates a National Advisory Committee on Child Labor to provide expert guidance and establishes a fund using collected penalties to support enforcement, research, and education. The bill improves processes for updating safety standards for children, mandates periodic reviews of hazardous occupations, and requires better data collection on child labor and workplace injuries. These changes aim to strengthen protections for children in the workplace through enhanced enforcement, better research, and more robust standards. The bill directly affects employers who hire children in violation of labor laws, children working in hazardous conditions, and government agencies responsible for enforcement.