The House gave final approval Wednesday to a bill that would double fines for violations of child labor laws.

First time violators would be fined $500 instead of $250 and subsequent violations would draw a $1,000 fine instead of $500.

If an underage worker is injured at a business with workplace safety violations, state officials can fine the company $14,000, up from $7,000.

The legislation, approved by a 114 to 1 vote, was prompted by a series of stories in the Charlotte Observer last year that chronicled how thousands of youths in the U.S. are injured working jobs deemed unsafe for underage workers.

"Currently it's like a slap on the wrist to hire an underage person," said Rep. Jennifer Weiss, Raleigh Democrat and a key sponsor of the bill of the existing penalties. "We need to make sure that the workplace is safe."

The bill is one of three proposals meant to strenghthen enforcement of child labor laws. A bill that required more reporting from the Department of Labor to the legislature was prevously adopted.

A third proposal that would have funded more investigators and enforcement officers has been set aside this year because of the budget deficit, Weiss said.

Update: Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry said in a statement that the bill should help curb violations. 

"I’m supportive of anything that will protect our young workers," Berry said. North Carolina has had one youth workplace fatality in the last five years but that is one too many. Hopefully this legislation will remind employers to think twice about what tasks they are asking our young workers to perform."

The fines for child labor law violations would double under legislation that passed the Senate Wednesday.

First time violators would be fined $500 instead of $250 and subsequent violations would draw a $1,000 fine instead of $500.

If an underage worker is injured at a business with workplace safety violations, state officials can fine the company $14,000, up from $7,000.

The legislation, approved by a 46 to 0 vote, was prompted by a series of stories in the Charlotte Observer last year that chronicled how thousands of youths in the U.S. are injured working jobs deemed unsafe for underage workers.

Because the bill was modified in the Senate, it now goes back to the House for another vote.

N.C. among the fiscally tardy five...Produce public records or pay...Just say no to underage working...beer and puppies.

Happy first day of the new fiscal year!

FUSS BUDGET - North Carolina is one of five states -- along with Arizona, California, Mississippi and Pennsylvania -- that did not have its budget written on time. (New York Times)

DOCUMENTATION OR LITIGATION - The House Finance Committee today takes up a bill that would require government entities to pay the legal fees of anyone who has to sue to obtain public records.

IPODS, NOT ASSEMBLY LINES - The Senate today will consider a bill that doubles penalties for violation of state child labor laws, now among the weakest in the nation, according to the National Consumers League.

WOOF! SLURP - The anti-puppy mill bill advances, as does legislation allowing beer tastings. As Homer Simpson would say: "Mmmmm. Beer."

The Senate approved a bill Monday meant to ensure better enforcement of the state's child labor laws.

The bill requires the state Labor Commissioner to report by Feb. 1 on her agency's enforcement actions and efforts related to child labor. The bill would require the department to report details including the number and types of complaints it received, the number and scope of investigations into those complaints and the identify of employers cited for violations.

The bill began in the House and must return to that chamber for another vote since the Senate made changes to the bill.

Stories in The Charlotte Observer last year that chronicled how thousands of American youths are injured working jobs deemed unsafe for young workers.