(a)      A work permit shall be issued:

            (1)      by the Commissioner; or

            (2)      in accordance with the requirements of the Commissioner, by a county superintendent of schools or designee of the superintendent.

      (b)      Before issuing a work permit, the issuing officer shall confirm the age of the minor for whom the permit is sought by examining:

            (1)      a baptismal certificate for the minor;

            (2)      a birth certificate or other official government document that attests to the age of the minor; or

            (3)      a school record for the minor.

      (c)      The official to whom an application for a work permit is submitted shall issue the work permit, by signing and dating the application, if:

            (1)      the document submitted under subsection (b) of this section attests to the age stated on the application; and

            (2)      the employment is allowed under this subtitle for the minor for whom the permit is sought.

      (d)      (1)      An official may issue a work permit that authorizes a minor to be employed in an occupation that otherwise would be restricted under § 3-213 of this subtitle, if the minor:

                  (i)      is exempted, under § 7-301(d)(2)(i) of the Education Article, from attendance in public school because the emotional, mental, or physical condition of the minor makes instruction detrimental to the progress of the minor;

                  (ii)      is to be employed only in office work;

                  (iii)      is to be employed in work that is performed outside of all rooms where goods are manufactured or processed; or

                  (iv)      is to be employed in work that a county school system obtains and supervises as part of a work-study, student-learner, or similar program for which the employment is an integral part of the course of study.

            (2)      An official shall issue a work permit that authorizes a minor to be employed:

                  (i)      in an occupation that otherwise would be restricted under § 3-213 of this subtitle if the minor is granted an exception by the Commissioner because, after investigation, the Commissioner determines that neither the work nor the work site where the work is to be performed is hazardous to the minor; or

                  (ii)      in an occupation that otherwise would be restricted under § 3-213(c)(1) or (2) of this subtitle, if the minor:

                        1.      has completed a course of study in that occupation at an accredited school and has been graduated from the school; or

                        2.      is granted an exception by the Commissioner because employment in that occupation is part of a work-study, student-learner, or apprentice program under a federal, State, or local governmental agency.