The State of Michigan has recently created an exception to the requirement that a minor must have a work permit from the minor’s school in order to be employed. Effective immediately, a work permit is not required for a minor who is working as an unpaid volunteer for a charitable organization that is recognized as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The law also seems to cover organizations that do not have a 501(c)(3) tax exemption from the IRS, as long as the organization’s “purposes, structure, or activities are exclusively those that are described in Section 501(c)(3).” A copy of the amended law is attached.
The exception does not apply to a non-profit organization that is outside the scope of Section 501(c)(3), such as a Chamber of Commerce, trade association or real estate board. These other organizations would need to get work permits for volunteers who are minors.