(a) Any person who engages in any of the following activities shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and shall be subject to a civil penalty of no less than $500 and no more than $2,500:
- (1) employs, allows, or permits any minor to work in violation of this Act, or of any rule, order, or ruling issued under the provisions of this Act;
- (2) obstructs the Department, its inspectors or deputies, or any other person authorized to inspect places of employment under this Act; or
- (3) willfully fails to comply with the provisions of this Act.
- (b) Whenever in the opinion of the Department a violation of this Act has occurred, it shall report the violation to the Attorney General who shall prosecute all violations reported.
- (c) The amount of the penalty, when finally determined, shall be ordered by the court, in an action brought for a criminal violation, to be paid to the Department.
- (d) Penalties recovered under this Section shall be paid into the Child Labor and Day and Temporary Labor Services Enforcement Fund.
(Source: P.A. 103-721, eff. 1-1-25.)