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Senate Journal: Page 465: Monday, March 4, 2002

the automobile cleaning, washing, and polishing processes-including those that are
corrosive, toxic, and even potentially fatal.

Our child labor laws were created to provide safeguards for young people in the
workplace. While I realize the important role that summer and after-school jobs play
to instill the value of hard work to our young people, we must strike a balance that will
afford our youth this opportunity for rewarding experience while also maintaining their
health and safety. Although this bill would require youth to use protective equipment,
I am not convinced that this requirement will always provide adequate protections
from toxic, corrosive, or potentially fatal chemicals.

Senate File 2121 was originally designed to provide businesses a vehicle through
which they could continue to employ teenagers in car washing jobs. No one disagrees
with the goal of continued employment for our young people in cleaning automobiles.
Unfortunately, the bill’s language goes too far and could allow child laborers to be put
into dangerous work settings.

Realizing that the solution to this issue must be a two-prong approach that ensures
both employment access and worker safety, I have instructed the Iowa Division of
Labor to issue an official interpretation of "dangerous or poisonous dyes or chemicals"
as it relates to our child labor laws. This interpretation will clarify the chemicals that
child laborers may come into contact with while maintaining the safety that they need
in the workplace. Earlier today, the Labor Commissioner issued this official
interpretation of the definition of "dangerous or poisonous dyes or chemicals" as
referenced in Iowa Code 92.8(19). Further, I have directed the Division of Labor to
continue to work with the automobile dealers in our state to ensure that we strike the
right balance to maintain both safety and employment opportunities for young Iowans.

Given the new interpretation of the child labor provisions and the continued
commitment of all parties to find a workable, real world solution to this issue, Senate
File 2121 no longer appears necessary.

For the above reasons, I hereby respectfully disapprove Senate File 2121.

Sincerely,
THOMAS J. VILSACK
Governor



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