KIDS LAWS IN ENTERTAINMENT

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Minors Employed in the Entertainment Industry  

Minors aged 15 days to 18 years employed in the entertainment industry must have a permit to work, and employers must have a permit to employ, both permits being issued by the Labor Commissioner's Office. These permits are also required for minors making phonographic recordings or who are employed as advertising or photographic models. Permits are required even when the entertainment is noncommercial in nature.  You may call 833-LCO-INFO (833-526-4636), or visit the office nearest you.

Entertainment Work Permit for Minors  https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/EWP-paper.html

Entertainment Industry Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Requirements  Beginning January 1, 2019, all talent agencies operating in California must provide their artists with educational materials on sexual harassment prevention, retaliation, reporting resources, nutrition and eating disorders.  Applicants for entertainment work permits for minors between the ages of 14 and 17 must also complete sexual harassment prevention training before obtaining a minor’s entertainment work permit.  More information on sexual harassment prevention training requirements in the entertainment industry    

Registration Application:  All minors working in the entertainment industry in California must register.  10-day permit – First time registrants may request this permit for a $50.00 fee. (Online only) Renewal applications and 16 - 17 year olds not eligible 6-month permit - Registrants may register or renew every 6-months free of charge. 

Steps to register:  Review and gather the requirements for obtaining a work permit. Complete the new application or renew your existing registration online, or by mail. Effective March 2, 2020, applications dropped off in person require a letter from a production entity or audition entity for same-day service. A letter from an agent or manager will not be accepted.  The letter must include at minimum:   - Minor's name   - Date minor will be working or auditioning   - Signed and dated by entity writing the letter  Applications with valid proof for an upcoming job will be expedited and permits will be issued at least 3 days prior to the scheduled job and sent to the email address on file.  Regular applications submitted in person without any upcoming jobs will be processed in the order received.  

Protect Your Child  Labor Code section 1706 currently prohibits persons who are required to register as sex offenders from representing or providing specified services to artists or performers less than 18 years of age. Beginning July 1, 2013, any person who performs specified activities for minors in the entertainment industry must apply for and obtain a Child Performer Services permit from the Labor Commissioner’s Office. Read more about the Child Performer Services permit in the press release and CPS Regulations.  

Contact Us  Email (Recommended)  EWP@dir.ca.gov   Phone  1-818-901-5484  

SCROLL DOWN FOR 

- WORK PERMIT FORM 

- CHILD LABOR LAWS BOOKLET 

PDF DOWNLOADABLE 

At present, Coogan Accounts (a.k.a Blocked Trust Accounts and Trust Accounts) are required by the State of California, New York, Illinois, Louisiana and New Mexico. 

In most instances, you will have to supply proof of a trust account prior to receiving a work permit. Your SAG-AFTRA agency (Agent, Management) will also be required to supply you with a letter proving active work search and auditions. 

15% of the minor’s gross wages are required to be withheld by the employer and deposited into the Coogan account within 15 days of employment. The parent must supply the Coogan account number to the employer.  

History of the Coogan Law  

The Coogan Law is named for famous child actor Jackie Coogan. Coogan was discovered in 1919 by Charlie Chaplin and soon after cast in the comedian’s famous film, The Kid. Jackie-mania was in full force during the 1920s, spawning a wave of merchandise dedicated to his image. It wasn’t until his 21st birthday after the death of his father and the dwindling of his film career that Jackie realized he was left with none of the earnings he had work so hard for as a child. Under California law at the time, the earnings of the minor belonged solely to the parent.  Coogan eventually sued his mother and former manager for his earnings. As a result, in 1939, the Coogan Law was put into effect, presumably to protect future young actors from finding themselves in the same terrible situation that Jackie Coogan was left in. Unfortunately, the 1939 incarnation of the Coogan Law was flawed, leaving open various loopholes and necessitating long term, court sanctioned contracts for validation.  The Current Coogan Law  After many years of advocating for more protections for child actors, SAG-AFTRA Young Performers Committee, National Policy and Planning Department and other industry groups were successful in closing many of the loopholes that made the original Coogan Law ineffective. In January 1, 2000, changes in California law affirmed that earnings by minors in the entertainment industry are the property of the minor, not their parents. Since a minor cannot legally control their own money, California Law governs their earnings and creates a fiduciary relationship between the parent and the child. This change in California law also requires that 15% of all minors’ earnings must be set aside in a blocked trust account commonly known as a Coogan Account.  For the full Coogan Law Jackie Coogan  Jackie Coogan went on to recover a small portion of his earnings after battling his mother in court. He became well known on the small screen playing Uncle Fester on The Addams Family, and will always be remembered for the role his story played in protecting child actors from losing their earnings.  

REGIONAL DETAILS 

California  

Parents in CA are required to open a “Coogan” Account and must be opened with a CA bank. A Coogan Account is a special blocked trust fund account found at a bank, credit union or brokerage firm.  

New York  

Parents in NY are required to open up an UTMA or UGMA compliant trust account. This account is similar to the “Coogan,” but does not differ regarding rules of withdrawal. The account may be opened with any bank, in any state, as long as it meets UTMA or UGMA requirements.  

Illinois  

Parents of children working in IL are required to open a Blocked Trust Account with any bank, in any state. A trust account must provide, at a minimum, that at least 15% of the gross earnings of the child performer shall be deposited into the account. This does not apply to Background Performers. Please visit the Illinois General Assembly's website for more information.  

Louisiana and New Mexico  

Parents in LA are required to open a Blocked Trust Account with any bank, in any state. Parents in New Mexico are required to open a blocked trust account only if their child earns more than $1000 per each employment contract.  Please visit the Labor Department’s website in each state for more detailed information.  

COOGAN TRUST ACCOUNTS 

Not all banks offer Coogan Trust Accounts, and even some that do still have employees are not familiar with the term “Coogan Account”. Sometimes explaining that you are opening up a blocked trust account for your minor child will clear up confusion.  

Below you will find a partial list of banks, credit unions and brokerage firms that offer Coogan/Trust Accounts. SAG-AFTRA provides this list for information purposes only and does not endorse any particular institution. These financial institutions each have different requirements for opening accounts. Some require a first paycheck to open the account, some a minimum deposit and the interest rates vary. It is important to compare financial institutions and find the best one for you and your child.  

SAG-AFTRA Federal Credit Union 

Actors Federal Credit Union 

Bank of the West 

City National Bank 

First Entertainment Credit Union 

Morgan Stanley/Smith Barney 

Union Bank of California 

Wells Fargo