Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill on Monday to clarify that Western Hockey League players are amateur athletes and not employees who should be paid minimum wage and fall under state child labor laws.

The Kent-based Seattle Thunderbirds, who play at the ShoWare Center, were one of the teams to push for the legislation. Owners proposed the bill because of an ongoing investigation by the state Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) into whether child labor laws have been broken by the teams that feature players ages 16-20.

Owners of the four Washington teams claimed they faced potential shutdown after a complaint filed with the state said players were professional athletes and therefore subject to certain wage and labor laws.

To support the teams, Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn, whose district includes Kent, sponsored a measure clarifying the amateur status of athletes in the WHL.

“While a select few players go on and play professional hockey, for most this is an opportunity to earn a college scholarship,” said Fain in a press release. “By addressing the status of these amateur athletes, they can continue to improve their game and put on a great display for local fans. Since moving to Kent in 2009 South King County fans have embraced our local team, which has added cultural and economic benefits.”

Washington’s other WHL teams are the Spokane Chiefs, Everett Silvertips and Tri-City Americans, all of whom testified in support of the legislation.

Hockey owners feared if they must abide by child labor laws the younger players would no longer be able to compete with such limited work hours and their entire business model for the league would fall apart.

L&I started an investigation of the WHL teams in the winter of 2013 after someone filed a complaint about possible violations of child labor laws because the players put in so many hours of practice and games with basically no pay. L&I officials have said they do not have a timeline on when the investigation might be finished.

The league includes teams from Northwestern Canada, Washington and Oregon. Rosters feature players ages 16 to 20 who receive a one-year college scholarship for each season they play in the league.

Participating players and their families – none of whom filed the original complaint – agree to the amateur status before joining the league and are equivalent to NCAA athletes and participants on elite high school club teams, according to Fain’s media release.

“The Western Hockey League and our four member clubs in the state of Washington are appreciative of the actions taken by state legislators which resulted in the passing of Senate Bill 5893 by the House of Representatives and the Senate,” said Ron Robison, commissioner of the WHL. “This legislation further confirms the status of WHL players as amateur athletes and will enable our clubs to continue offering the top level of amateur hockey development for young players in North America and contributing to their respective communities in Washington, as they have since 1977.”