If PA is trying to do some version of the Coogan law--it would be 15% of each child's earnings...NOT the entire earnings hte family receives for doing a show.
As it stands--like it or not...if the sextuplets are working, so is Kate and she is entitled to receive a paycheck from TLC just as they are. She doesn't nor shouldn't be expected to contribute 15% of her salary for the kids.
Billy Ray Cyrus receives an independent check from Miley Cyrus for his activity on Hannah Montana--he is not expected to contribute 15% to Miley as that is not the purpose of the Coogan Law. It is to protect the earnings of the minor.
My understanding--is that PA is requiring 15% of the kids' earnings to be put in trust. It doesn't make sense any other way. ETA: This also means that the other 85% is unprotected to the point that Kate can use (or sadly not use) it on the kids. She can use it for anything that benefits the kids, including but not limited to their education, clothing, etc.
OK, my synopsis - for what it is worth:
PA investigated and found TLC and the Gosselin parents in violation of PA current Child Labor laws, because the kids have been deemed to be working without permits. They settled that issue back in March, by requiring TLC and the Gosselin parents to obtain work permits in the future and put some monies in trust retroactively. TLC essentially paid a fine so that 15% of what the Gosselin parents
had been paid in the past, was put in a trust for the kids. We have no evidence that anything at all was put in trust for the working children prior to this ruling. PA does not have a Coogan law right now. That is a California law.
TLC and the Gosselin parents agreed (reluctantly) with the ruling, put 15% in trust for the kids, and applied for work permits in order to be able to resume filming. Yes, they agreed that the children
areworking.
Better than nothing, but much too little, much too late. Even that 15% is
still not protected because the Gosselin parents can still tap it for medical and educational expenses.
With the new work permits TLC and Kate (now the custodial parent) must comply with the current laws that they were quite blatently disregarding before. Thus TLC's latest press commenting that Kate & 8 will be more focused on Kate. An educated guess is that they will limit filming of the kids because they are now more resticted on the hours the children work even under current law.
Rep Murt of PA was furious that the DOL was so restricted under current law in assessing penalties for dodging it, and disgusted at what had been filmed. He and the committee he convened has filed new legislation to help all kids in entertainment, including the G children. Apparently it is 31 pages long and a Coogan-type law. It has yet to pass.
I have not seen it yet, but it should be interesting. It promises (from the overviews I have seen) to be much more restrictive on the hours of work allowed for the kids. Photo shoots for magazines will be counted as working hours. Working hours will be limited and overseen by an independent *teacher* whose job description will be to keep an eye on the welfare of the children.
What Kate (and perhaps Jon, because his role is unclear as the non-custodial parent, although he will probably have to sign off on it) decide to sign in future contracts with TLC regarding the kids will be interesting and under scrutiny. Worst case, what Kate signs *may* be 90% for her and 10% for the kids, of which only 15% of that 10% is put in trust for all 8 children.
TLC is fighting Rep Murt's proposed legislation. We will see what happens.
It is a mess. I just hope the new legislation passes so that the kids are paid something for their work and their meagre 15% of whatever contract is signed on their behalf is protected for them. I do not trust either Gosselin parent to do the right thing at this point.
I'm not watching Kate & 8. On principle.
. 
Whatever...
