N.J. Stat. § 34:2-21.58: Theatrical productions; employment of minors under 16.

2. a. Notwithstanding any provision of the child labor laws of this State, the professional employment of minors under the age of 18 years in theatrical productions is authorized upon compliance with the conditions in P.L.1962, c.91 (C.34:2-21.57 et seq.) set forth.

b. (1) If a minor is guaranteed three or more days of employment, the employer shall provide time during the workday for the minor to fulfill the minor’s educational requirements.

(2) This instructional time shall average at least three hours per missed day of school day, calculated on a weekly basis.

(3) Extra teaching time above three hours per day provided to the child performer may be carried over to another day in the same week or another week, subject to the following limit: no more than 10 hours of teaching time may be carried over from week to week.

(4) Any hours carried over from week to week shall be subject to the discretion of the teacher who has been provided by the employer.

(5) The minor shall receive equivalent instruction approved by the Department of Education or by the state or county of the minor’s residence if the minor is not a resident of New Jersey.

(6) The employer shall provide a teacher who is credentialed for the level of education required by State law or regulation for the minor from the third missed day of school through the remainder of the minor's employment in the theatrical production.

c. The daily working hours of minors shall be as follows:

(1) infants between 15 days and six months of age may work up to 20 minutes, and time on set shall not exceed two hours;

(2) infants and minors between six months and under two years of age may work up to two hours, and time on set shall not exceed four hours;

(3) minors between two years old and under six years old may work up to three hours, and time on set shall not exceed six hours;

(4) minors between six years old and under nine years old, up to four hours on a school day and up to six hours on a non-school day, and time on set shall not exceed eight hours;

(5) minors between nine years old and under 16 years old, up to five hours on a school day and up to seven hours on a non-school day, and time on set shall not exceed nine hours; and

(6) minors between 16 years old and under 18 years old to work on set for up to six hours on a school day and up to nine hours on a non-school day, and time on set shall not exceed 10 hours.

d. The minor shall be under the direct care and supervision of an adult who is a parent, guardian, or a designated representative at all times during the minor’s employment or while living away from home when required as an incident of the employment.

e. Employment of a minor shall not be for more than six days in any seven-day period. The minor shall not be employed before 5:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m. on any day preceding a school day. A minor may be employed between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. on any day preceding a non-school day.

f. Nothing in P.L.1962, c.91 (C.34:2-21.57 et seq.) shall prevent the employer of a minor in a theatrical production from complying with a collective bargaining agreement or other contract that establishes more stringent standards than those contained in P.L.1962, c.91 (C.34:2-21.57 et seq.), and nothing in P.L.1962, c.91 (C.34:2-21.57 et seq.) shall be construed as reducing, limiting, or curtailing the rights of a minor employed in a theatrical production.

L.1962, c. 91, s. 2. Amended by L.1977, c. 430, s. 1, eff. Feb. 28, 1978; 2025, c.382, s.2.