Labor & Employment (Workplace Safety)

HB 4325 authorizes the West Virginia Division of Labor to implement a specific child labor rule (42 CSR 09) that was drafted, revised, and refilled after committee feedback. The rule sets concrete standards for minors' work hours, job types, and safety requirements in the state. This bill directly affects employers who hire minors and the Division of Labor, which will enforce the rule.

HB 4326 authorizes West Virginia's Office of Miners' Health, Safety, and Training to create and enforce a rule requiring coal mining operations in the state to submit and obtain approval for a comprehensive Mine Safety Program. This bill directly affects coal mining companies operating within West Virginia by mandating a standardized safety program review process. The key provision establishes a formal procedure for mine operators to develop, submit, and gain regulatory approval for their safety plans under 56 CSR 08. The rulemaking authority is explicitly granted to the Office of Miners' Health, Safety, and Training as part of the state's regulatory framework.