Alaska2026Passed Legislature
HB61
Alaska Bill HB61: Updates on Work Rules for Minors and Flexible Hours
Last scannedSep 22, 2026, 12:32 AM
In one sentence
This bill updates rules so that minors under 17 no longer need a state work permit, allows family members to hire relatives without one in their own business, increases daily hour limits for students under 16, and adjusts overtime thresholds for flexible work plans.
What it does
- Updates the rule for voluntary flexible work hour plans so that employees can work up to 40 hours a week and 12 hours a day without triggering overtime pay if they have an approved written agreement filed with the department.
- Changes the age requirement so that minors under 16 years old, instead of under 17, must be employed by someone who has received general written authorization from the commissioner.
- Allows family members to hire a minor without getting state permission if the work is done in a business or on a boat owned and operated by that family member.
- Increases the daily combined limit for school attendance and employment for minors under 16 years old from nine hours to ten hours.
- Removes older sections of law that provided specific exceptions for certain types of minor employment.
Who it affects
- Minors in Alaska who are younger than 17 years old
- Employers hiring minors under the age of 16 or those using flexible work plans
- Family members, including parents, grandparents, adult siblings, aunts, and uncles, who own businesses or boats and hire relatives
- Employees working under voluntary flexible work hour plans
Limits and unknowns
- The official text does not state a specific date when these new rules will officially begin.
- The bill mentions that some employment is exempt by regulations adopted by the department, but it does not list those specific exemptions here.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Voluntary Flexible Work Hour Plan
- A written agreement between an employer and employee that sets daily and weekly hours, which must be filed with the department to receive a certificate of approval.
- General Written Authorization
- Official permission from the commissioner required for employers who want to hire minors under 16 years old.
Official record
Sources
Read the official summary
EMPLOYMENT OF MINORS An Act relating to employment; relating to voluntary flexible work hour plans; relating to the employment of minors; and relating to hours worked by minors employed in the state.
Official activity
Bill history
- (H) Minutes (HSTA)Min
- (H) Heard & HeldText
- (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120Text
- (H) REFERRED TO STATE AFFAIRS52
- (H) GOVERNOR'S TRANSMITTAL LETTER52
- (H) FN1: ZERO(LWF)52
- (H) STA, L&C52
- (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS52