On October 21, 2013, Governor Cuomo signed legislation designed to end exploitation of child models. The expressed purpose of the Bill, S5486-2013, is:
To provide for and incorporate the protections covered under Article 4-A of the Labor Law and Article 35 of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law which governs the conditions of employment and the education of child performers to include child models.
This protection is justified by the dangers faced by child models, including frequent sexual harassment, as well as inadequate education and financial protections enjoyed by other child performers.
The new law amends Labor Law Article 4-A to add “runway and print models” to the list of performers that render “artistic or creative services” under Labor Law § 150(1), and amends the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law to extend to child models the legal protections under that law (including judicial approval for certain contracts) currently enjoyed by child performers who sing, dance, play a musical instrument, or act.