(1) The director shall enforce the provisions of this article.
The director shall take the necessary steps to inform employers, school authorities,and the general public regarding the provisions of this article, and he shall work with other public and private agencies to minimize the obstacles to legitimate employment of minors.
The director shall receive and investigate complaints and may from time to time visitemployers at reasonable times and inspect pertinent records to determine compliance with this article.
(a) If investigation of any place of employment or complaint discloses a violation of this article, except section 8-12-105 (3), the director shall give the employer written notice describing the violation and specifying the provisions of this article that such employer is allegedly violating. Within ten days of receipt of such notice of violation, the employer may file a written request for a hearing on the issue of whether the violation exists, which hearing shall be conducted in accordance with section 24-4-105, C.R.S. After a hearing concerning a violation of this article, or after the expiration of twenty days after the issuance of a notice of violation during which the employer has neither requested a hearing nor ceased the conduct that constitutes the alleged violation, the director may issue a final order requiring the employer to cease and desist the conduct found to be in violation. At any time thereafter, the director may order the violating employer to pay a penalty of twenty dollars for each offense. Each day that the conduct constituting the violation is continued after the order is made final, and each minor employed in violation of this article, constitutes a separate offense. The order imposing the penalty shall become final upon issuance, and the penalty shall be due and payable thirty days after the order assessing the penalty is entered, unless prior to that time the order has been modified or a hearing on the penalty has been requested as provided by section 24-4-105, C.R.S. All penalties imposed by this section shall be collected as provided in section 8-1-142.
(b) (I) If investigation of any place of employment or complaint discloses a violation of section 8-12-105 (3), the director shall give the employer written notice describing the violation and specifying the provisions of this article that such employer is allegedly violating. Within ten days after receipt of such notice of violation, the employer may file a written request for a hearing on the issue of whether the violation exists, which hearing shall be conducted in accordance with section 24-4-105, C.R.S. After a hearing concerning a violation of section 8-12105 (3), or after the expiration of twenty days after the issuance of a notice of violation during which the employer has neither requested a hearing nor ceased the conduct which constitutes the alleged violation, the director may issue a final order requiring the employer to cease and desist the conduct found to be in violation. At any time thereafter, the director may order the violating employer to pay a penalty pursuant to subparagraph (II) of this paragraph (b). The order imposing the penalty shall become final upon issuance, and the penalty shall be due and payable thirty days after the order assessing the penalty is entered, unless prior to that time the order has been modified or a hearing on the penalty has been requested as provided by section 24-4-105, C.R.S. All penalties imposed by this section shall be collected as provided in section 8-1-142.
(II) Failure to comply with the provisions of this paragraph (b) shall make the offender liable for administrative fines pursuant to the following penalty schedule:
For a first offense, by a fine of not less than two hundred dollars nor more than fivehundred dollars;
For a second offense within six months after the first offense, by a fine of not lessthan five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars;
For a third or subsequent offense within six months after the first offense, by a fineof not less than one thousand dollars nor more than ten thousand dollars.
The findings, orders, and penalties made by the director shall be subject to judicialreview pursuant to section 24-4-106, C.R.S.
The director may apply for an injunction in any court of competent jurisdiction toenjoin any person from committing any act prohibited by this article.
The director, in accordance with section 24-4-103, C.R.S., shall promulgate rules andregulations more specifically defining the occupations and types of equipment permitted or prohibited by this article.
Source: L. 71: R&RE, p. 896, § 1. C.R.S. 1963: § 80-6-15. L. 86: (5) and (7) amended,
p. 473, § 35, effective July 1. L. 2000: (4) amended, p. 1486, § 1, effective July 1.