N.Y. Gen. Mun. Law § 121-B

Current through 2024 NY Law Chapter 553

Section 121-B - Care of children admitted to certain places of amusement in certain cities, villages and towns under a local law or ordinance

The board of aldermen, common council or other legislative body of a city having a population of less than one million, or of any village or town may adopt a local law or ordinance, subject to the provisions of this section, for the licensing of theatres in such city or village or town, wherein there shall be exhibited those films which have been licensed by the education department of the state of New York to admit children over the age of eight years and under the age of sixteen years, unaccompanied by a parent or guardian or other adult person.

No child under the age of sixteen years shall be admitted to any theatre unaccompanied by a parent, guardian or other adult person, unless such theatre is licensed pursuant to and complies with the terms of a local law or ordinance adopted pursuant to this section. Any such local law or ordinance, and every license issued thereunder, shall require:

1. That seats shall be provided on the main or orchestra floor by the owner, operator or management of such theatre for use by such unaccompanied children. No unaccompanied children shall be permitted in any balcony or box.

2. A seat in such section of the theatre shall be provided for every such child admitted to the theatre.

3. Such children shall not be admitted to such theatre during the time when their school classes within the city or village or town are in session, or after the hour of six o'clock in the evening, provided however, that for children aged thirteen, fourteen and fifteen a later hour in the evening for admission and the hour at which such children shall be required to leave the theatre may be provided for by such local law or ordinance.

4. A matron or supervisor and such other assistants as may be specified in such local law or ordinance shall be provided by such owner, operator or management of such theatre for the supervision of such children, who shall give undivided attention to such supervision during the time such children shall be in such theatre. Such matron or supervisor shall be licensed by such city or village or town and the license fee, not exceeding two dollars, shall be paid by such owner, operator or management of such theatre.

Such local law or ordinance may provide other and additional conditions or limitations in regard to the care of children so admitted, but such conditions or limitations shall not require any additional approval of and shall not prohibit the exhibition of any motion picture film duly licensed by the board of education of the state of New York.

Such local law or ordinance may provide for the enforcement thereof and may prescribe penalties for violations thereof or of licenses issued thereunder.

The admission of a child between eight and sixteen years of age to a theatre licensed under authority of a local law or ordinance adopted pursuant to the provisions of this section, where such theatre complies with the terms of this section and of the license, shall not be deemed a violation of the provisions of section 260.20 of the penal law.

N.Y. Gen. Mun. Law § 121-B