Child Performers Education and Trust Act of 2003

Hi All,

With just Three years of work, and the help of the first ever Tri-Guild task force, and 71 dedicated stage parents, the "impossible" has happened in New York. All the unions worked this Bill, including the powerful NY State Teachers and the IATSE. Of course it's not perfect. Politics is not about perfection, but progress. I have included the "early buzz" among those most affected, the families, after the article.

Enjoy,
Paul Petersen

SCREEN ACTORS GUILD

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TELEVISION AND RADIO ARTISTS

Actors’ Equity Association

SAG, AFTRA And AEA NOT “KID”DING ABOUT

YOUNG PERFORMERS’ RIGHTS

New York State Assembly and Senate pass “Child Performers Act”

June 20, 2003--Two weeks after representatives from the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and Actors Equity Association (AEA) met with New York State legislators, both the House and the Senate in Albany have signed the Child Performers Education and Trust Act of 2003 (A.7510 and S.4696). Pending approval by Governor Pataki, these bills would codify protections for child performers in the entertainment industry in the areas of wages and education.

“We commend both the NY Senate and Assembly for recognizing the importance of child protection laws and for their quick and thoughtful action. Their impressive work will assist thousands of young performers in New York,” stated Screen Actors Guild President Melissa Gilbert. Gilbert also serves as co-chair of SAG’s National Young Performers Committee.

“We are extremely indebted to the sponsors of this legislation: New York Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno; Senator Guy Velella (R-C-31st District), Chair of the Senate Labor Committee; Assembly member Helene Weinstein (D-41st), Chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee; and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-64th), all of whom recognize the logic and value of protecting our children when they work,” said AFTRA and SAG National Board Member Paul Petersen, himself a former child performer on The Donna Reed Show.

According to Petersen, who runs the child performer advocacy group A Minor Consideration, “Our efforts were supported by a number of wonderful child performers, who were particularly valuable in answering questions and offering personal examples of how and why this legislation is important for them,” Petersen added. “We deeply appreciate the participation of Ricky Ashley (Hollywood Arms, Ragtime), Julianne Maurielle (Oklahoma!), Samantha Browne-Walters (Life with Bonnie, Third Watch), Alyssa May Gold (Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood) and their parents.”

Petersen was joined in Albany by Ray Bradford, AFTRA national EEO director; Willie Boston, AEA’s EEO business representative; Nicole Flender, vice-chair of AEA’s Young Performers Committee; Nancy Fox, SAG executive administrator; AFTRA Young Performers Committee Chair and former child model Bob Lydiard; SAG New York Legislative Committee Chair Cynthia Vance; and union member Alan Simon, who operates On Location Education, a company that provides teaching services and education for children who perform professionally.

Union representatives also met with Assembly Member Susan John, Assembly Member Joseph Morelle, chair of the Assembly Committee on Tourism, Arts and Sports Development; George Penn and John Fredrick, legislative aides for Assembly Member Steven Sanders and Susan Schmidt, senior aide to Senator Velella.

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Regarding your new bill, since I still have a daughter active in the biz world and do have a lot of contacts with parents and I thought you would like to hear some positive feedback!

When the bill was posted on the SAG And AFTRA site, parents seem to be a little surprised and had questions BUT seemed to have called for information with specific questions they had, (not exactly sure who, sounds like maybe the sponsor of the bill, some SAG or AFTRA) but...have had their questions answered very thoroughly and nicely and I have heard nothing but good responses. I am basically staying away from the issue because I don't have the correct answers, but I do try to be positive. I do hear feedback and they seem to agree with the changes, especially with education and the six month permit. The only issue they did have with the trust funds is how to find banks, in NY, but no one had an issue with not accepting the rule about having the trust funds. They knew it was coming and basically it had to be done here in NY. They thought the Department of Labor taking over the permit made more sense than the Mayor's office as well. They seem to be getting answers too with regard to how to find banks with trust funds, so all in all, I believe you did well.

One mom did have a question about home schooling and new bill. I don't know if that was included or how it will be affected???

Hope you don't mind me sending this info, but of course, being a mom in the biz still, I will hear chit chat (unfortunately) but....... it was all very good news so I thought you might appreciate positive news after putting all of this together.

Congrats!