Employing minor children in violation of law; penalties.

(1) Whoever violates any provisions of this law, or employs or permits or suffers any minor to be employed or to work in violation of this law, or of any order issued under the provisions of this law, or obstructs persons authorized under this law in the inspection of places of employment, and whoever, having under his or her control any minor, permits the minor to be employed or to work in violation of this law, shall for such offense be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. Each day during which any violation of this law continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense, and the employment of any minor in violation of the law shall, with respect to each minor so employed, constitute a separate and distinct offense.

(2) Any person, firm, corporation, or governmental agency, or agent thereof, that has employed minors in violation of this part, or any rule adopted pursuant thereto, may be subject by the department to fines not to exceed $2,500 per offense. The department shall adopt, by rule, disciplinary guidelines specifying a meaningful range of designated penalties based upon the severity and repetition of the offenses, and which distinguish minor violations from those which endanger a minor’s health and safety.

(3) If the department has reasonable grounds for believing there has been a violation of this part or any rule adopted pursuant thereto, it shall give written notice to the person alleged to be in violation. Such notice shall include the provision or rule alleged to be violated, the facts alleged to constitute such violation, and requirements for remedial action within a time specified in the notice. No fine may be levied unless the person alleged to be in violation fails to take remedial action within the time specified in the notice.