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HB05494 • 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF YOUTH EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION.

AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF YOUTH EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION.

Children Labor
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Labor and Public Employees Committee
Last action
2026-04-07
Official status
Referred by House to Committee on Appropriations
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date is October 1, 2026, but the report deadline is January 1, 2027.

A Study on How Young Workers Are Classified

This law requires the Labor Commissioner to study current rules for young workers in learning programs and report findings by January 1, 2027.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Labor Commissioner to conduct a study about how youth employment is classified.
  • Asks the study to look at work-based learning programs that currently must pay minors the minimum fair wage.
  • Examines if these programs could be reclassified so they can give stipends instead of paying the full minimum wage.
  • Sets a deadline for the Labor Commissioner to report results by January 1, 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Labor and its commissioner
  • Minors participating in work-based learning programs

Terms To Know

Minimum fair wage
The lowest legal amount an employer must pay a worker, as defined in state law.
Stipends
Fixed amounts of money given to participants instead of regular wages for work performed.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill only orders a study and does not change any current wage laws immediately.
  • It is unclear if the final report will recommend changing how these programs are classified.
  • The Department of Labor expects to hire a consultant because it lacks staff for this task.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-07 Connecticut General Assembly

    Referred by House to Committee on Appropriations

  2. 2026-04-02 LCO

    Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office

  3. 2026-04-02 Connecticut General Assembly

    Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House

  4. 2026-04-02 Connecticut General Assembly

    House Calendar Number 281

  5. 2026-04-02 LCO

    File Number 394

  6. 2026-03-27 LCO

    Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/01/26 5:00 PM

  7. 2026-03-18 LCO

    Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office

  8. 2026-03-17 LAB

    Joint Favorable

  9. 2026-03-06 Connecticut General Assembly

    Public Hearing 03/10

  10. 2026-03-05 Connecticut General Assembly

    Referred to Joint Committee on Labor and Public Employees

Official Summary Text

To require the Labor Commissioner to conduct a study of youth employment classification.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
House of Representatives
HB5494 / File No. 394 1

General Assembly File No. 394
February Session, 2026 House Bill No. 5494

House of Representatives, April 2, 2026

The Committee on Labor and Public Employees reported
through REP. SANCHEZ, E. of the 24th Dist., Chairperson of
the Committee on the part of the House, that the bill ought to
pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
CLASSIFICATION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (Effective October 1, 2026) (a) The Labor Commissioner shall 1
conduct a study relating to youth employment classification. Such study 2
shall include, but need not be limited to: (1) An analysis of current work-3
based learning experience programs for minors that require payment of 4
the minimum fair wage, and (2) the benefits and considerations 5
necessary to reclassify such work -based learning experience programs 6
in order to allow such programs to be eligible to provide stipends to 7
minors participating in such programs in lieu of payment of the fair 8
minimum wage. For purposes of this subsection, "minimum fair wage" 9
has the same meaning as provided in section 31 -58 of the general 10
statutes. 11
(b) Not later than January 1, 2027, the commissioner shall report the 12
results of such study to the joint standing committee of the General 13
HB5494 File No. 394

HB5494 / File No. 394 2

Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to labor and public 14
employees, in accordance with the provisions of section 11 -4a of the 15
general statutes. 16
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2026 New section

LAB Joint Favorable

HB5494 File No. 394

HB5494 / File No. 394 3

The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of
the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not
represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general,
fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional
knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final
products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $
Labor Dept. GF - Cost Up to
$100,000
None
Note: GF=General Fund

Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill requires the Department of Labor (DOL) to conduct a study
of youth employment classification. This results in a one-time cost in FY
27 of up to $100,000 to hire a consultant as the agency does not have the
staff capacity to conduct such a study.
The Out Years
None.

HB5494 File No. 394

HB5494 / File No. 394 4

OLR Bill Analysis
HB 5494

AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
CLASSIFICATION.

SUMMARY
The Office of Legislative Research does not analyze Special Acts.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Labor and Public Employees Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 13 Nay 0 (03/17/2026)