On October 7th, 2011 California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a new bill (California AB 1401) which allows for parents of child actors to obtain, on a one-time basis, a Temporary 10-Day Entertainment Work Permit for a fee of $50.  The new online system was built in less than 7 weeks and is scheduled to go live as of 1/1/2012.

Not a new idea, the prospect of creating an online entertainment work permit system for California has been circulating around the state capitol for many years without much support or success.  As a matter of fact, a similar bill was vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger as recently as 2009.

For the most part, California's new temporary online work permit is being applauded as the logical first step on the path to creating an online system for all CA Entertainment Work Permits - a system which will not only allow for creation and renewal of six-month permits, but for verification of all permits by third parties (casting directors, studio teachers, etc.)

What you need to know about California's new 10-Day Temporary Permits: 

• Will be issued on a one-time only basis for a fee of $50.00
• Available to minors age 15 days to 15 years (16-17 year olds are excluded from the new law)
• Infants under age 30 days will not be able to obtain a temporary permit without a note from a physician certifying that the infant is at least 15 days old, was carried to full term and is physically able to perform
• Temporary Permits can be verified by third parties online with a permit number and zip code
• Temporary Blanket Permits (for large groups of minors) are not available  
• At the time of publication, a link to the Temp Permit Application was not available, but it will be available on ChildrenInFilm.com as soon as it is released. 

CIF President, Toni Casala, consulted with the CA Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports Tourism and Internet Media during the creation of the bill and more recently attended a first-look training session with the programmers who designed the new system.  "California has, for a long time, needed a system that works more efficiently in the modern age.  Although we still have a long way to go, this new system will solve many problems both within our government and the entertainment community."