2022 New York Laws
ACA - Arts and Cultural Affairs
Title L - Protection of Child Performers and Models
Article 35 - Child Performers and Models
35.01 - Child Performers.

§ 35.01. Child   performers.  1.  It  shall  be  unlawful,  except  as
otherwise provided by section one hundred fifty-one of the labor law, to
employ, or to exhibit or cause to be  exhibited,  or  to  use,  or  have
custody  of, for the purpose of exhibition, use or employment, any child
under the age of sixteen years, or for one who has the care, custody  or
control  of  such  child  as  a  parent, relative, guardian, employer or
otherwise, to exhibit, use or to  procure  or  consent  to  the  use  or
exhibition  of  such  child, or to neglect or to refuse to restrain such
child from engaging or acting in a public or private  place,  except  as
hereinafter  provided,  whether  or  not an admission fee is charged and
whether or not such child or any other person is to be  compensated  for
the use of such child therein, in the following activities:
  (a)  In  singing;  or  dancing; or modeling; or playing upon a musical
instrument; or  acting,  or  in  rehearsing  for,  or  performing  in  a
theatrical  performance  or  appearing in a pageant; or as a subject for
use, in or for, or in connection with the making  of  a  motion  picture
film; or
  (b) In rehearsing for or performing in a radio or television broadcast
or program.
  2.  The  provisions of subdivision one of this section shall not apply
to the participation or employment, use or exhibition of any child in  a
church,  academy  or  school, including a dancing or dramatic school, as
part of the regular services or activities thereof respectively;  or  in
the  annual  graduation exercises of any such academy or school; or in a
private home; or in any  place  where  such  performance  is  under  the
direction,  control  or  supervision of a department of education; or in
the performance of radio or television programs in cases where the child
or children broadcasting do so from a school, church,  academy,  museum,
library or other religious, civic or educational institution, or for not
more  than  two  hours  a  week from the studios of a regularly licensed
broadcasting company, where the performance of the child or children  is
of  a  nonprofessional character and occurs during hours when attendance
for instruction is not required in accordance with the education law.
  3. A child performer permit shall be issued by the state department of
labor pursuant to section one hundred fifty-one of the labor law.
  4. The mayor or other chief executive officer of  the  city,  town  or
village  where  the exhibition, rehearsal or performance will take place
may solicit the assistance of the Society for the Prevention of  Cruelty
to  Children  in  New  York  city,  and  outside New York city, with the
Society for the  Prevention  of  Cruelty  to  Children  or  other  child
protective  organization, if there be one and such other state and local
agencies as he or she may determine.
  5. Violation of this section shall be a misdemeanor.