State Senate agrees to exempt WHL players from labor laws

Players for the Spokane Chiefs and other U.S. Division teams would not need special teen worker permits or be subject to child labor or minimum wage laws, under a bill that received final approval Thursday in the Senate in Olympia. On a 47-1 vote, the Senate agreed to exempt players for the many Western Hockey League teams or other junior ice hockey teams from two key state labor laws. Although the players can be as young as 16, they won’t be covered under the Industrial Welfare Act, which sets work conditions for minors and requires them to have a special work permit. They also won’t fall under the Minimum Wage Act. – Jim Camden