Governor Jeff Landry Signs House Bill 232, Act No. 61, Ending School Work Permits

Governor Jeff Landry signed House Bill 232 into law on May 11, 2026, removing Louisiana schools from the process of approving and maintaining employment certificates for minors. The measure became Act No. 61 the same day.

Students aged 14 to 17 can now obtain the state employment certificate form directly through the Louisiana Workforce Commission. The form is available on the department’s website and at local field offices.

Schools and school districts no longer issue, approve, or maintain the certificates. Employers now carry the main administrative duties.

The change affects minors seeking part-time or seasonal jobs. Parental or legal guardian authorization remains mandatory and must appear on the new state form.

Under the new process, an employer must collect the completed certificate from the minor and verify the minor’s age with official records. Acceptable records may include a birth certificate or driver’s license.

The employer must keep the documentation at the workplace throughout the minor’s employment and for 14 days after the job ends. That requirement places the file with the business rather than the student’s school.

Employers take over the certificate file

The state’s Secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission is responsible for providing the employment certificate form. Minors and employers no longer need a school office to complete the state-level process.

That can shorten the time between a job offer and hiring. It also removes school-office availability from the process, including during holidays when school buildings may be closed.

Rep. Josh Carlson, the bill’s author, described the former system as “cumbersome” and said it created “barriers to entry.” Supporters have presented the law as part of a broader effort in several states, including Indiana and Arkansas, to reduce administrative obstacles to youth employment.

The legislation changes administration, not the underlying requirement for parental involvement. A parent or legal guardian must still authorize the minor’s employment on the state form.

Federal Form I-9 rules still apply

Louisiana’s certificate process operates alongside federal employment-verification rules. Every employer must still complete Form I-9 for a minor employee.

Federal guidance addresses situations in which a young worker lacks a traditional identity document. If a minor cannot provide a List B identity document, a parent or legal guardian may establish the child’s identity by completing the relevant portions of Form I-9.

“a parent or legal guardian may establish identity for a minor”

The USCIS guidance for minors under age 18 explains that federal identity and work-authorization procedures continue even when a state changes who handles its employment certificate. Employers can review the USCIS guidance for minors alongside the state process.

The federal rule concerns Form I-9. The Louisiana law concerns the state employment certificate. Employers must account for both.

Advocates see faster hiring, while critics cite oversight

Supporters say eliminating school sign-off can help students begin work sooner. The former process could delay hiring when school offices were unavailable, particularly during holiday periods.

Labor advocates and other critics have raised a different concern. Without school oversight, educators may have less ability to see whether a student’s work schedule is affecting academic performance.

The law therefore moves a monitoring point away from schools and toward employers, parents, and the state workforce agency. The material retained in the process includes age verification, parental authorization, and workplace recordkeeping.

The new arrangement does not remove federal workplace protections. On January 24, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security issued a statement reaffirming its “Support of the Enforcement of Labor and Employment Laws.” The statement emphasized continued coordination between federal agencies and labor agencies to protect workers while states alter their own administrative procedures.

The state form and workplace records now follow a new route

The Louisiana Workforce Commission’s minor labor law information directs the state-side process. The Louisiana Legislature’s HB 232 and Act 61 page records the legislation.

The law’s operative date is May 11, 2026. From that date, the employer, rather than the school, must retain the completed employment certificate during the minor’s employment and for 14 days afterward.

USCIS has not issued a statement specifically addressing the Louisiana legislation. Its existing federal guidance remains the reference point for completing Form I-9 when the employee is under 18, including cases involving a parent or legal guardian’s role in establishing identity.

This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Consult a qualified immigration attorney about your specific case.