The effort to reform child labor laws in Pennsylvania, the state where TLC's "Kate Plus 8" show is filmed, is gaining momentum. And it looks like a bill aimed at protecting kids in reality TV series that was introduced by State Rep. Thomas Murt could become law within months. You can read my May 29th piece about the growing calls for reform here.
Murt's office reports that the bill "has picked up more than 70 co-sponsors, split almost
equally between Democrats and Republicans." It will need about 102 votes to pass in the House.
A full, bi-partisan hearing is expected in August, and after that, passage will depend on how quickly the state legislators can approve a budget and move on to matters like Murt's bill.
"It is truly gratifying to have such strong support from both sides of the aisle," Murt said in an email to the Sun. "Protecting the interests of children is not a partisan issue and I am pleased so many of my colleagues have joined me in this effort It is my hope that the Labor Relations Committee will hold hearings on the bill in the very near future so we can get it to the governor for his signature as soon as possible."
Make no mistake about it, more and more stories about the need to protect children who are being filmed in reality TV shows are appearing, and viewers who once watched the shows without thinking about the price being paid by little kids who appear in the shows are now questioning the whole business.
The process might seem slow, but this is the way true reform takes hold -- not with PR campaigns, staged interviews and stories planted with purveyers of gossip. This is legislation that will change life for the Gosselin kids who live in Pennsylvania. But it will also make every producer and cable channel in the country think twice before they commit to a reality TV series featuring little kids.
