Kate Plus 8 Plus Labor Probe = The Kids Are All Right

Pennsylvania authorities find TLC show is adhering to state law governing child employees

Finally someone sticking up for the little guys  Kate Gosselin.

The reality mom and her new Jon-less TLC spinoff series, Kate Plus 8, has not violated any of Pennsylvania's child labor laws, a rep for the state's Department of Labor and Industry tells E! News.

"Reality television is a new area of entertainment. However, Labor & Industry assured during its investigation, visit to the site, and issuance of permits that protections applied to these children and that they were not unlawfully exploited," the agency said in a statement.

No, just lawfully exploited.

The declaration came after state Rep. Thomas P. Murt wrote a letter last week to the department calling for an inquiry into whether the cable network had breached guidelines governing the employment of minors, in this case the Gosselins' septuplets.

His beef? The Republican lawmaker sought a clarification of the current statute, which allows for kids under the age of 7 to perform temporarily in movies but does not do so for TV shows, while the rules for reality series are even murkier.

As it stands, Kate's kids are only 6. But the department rep insists they are covered and there's no need for concern about their welfare.

"The permits apply legal protections governing hours and education, restrict activities, require that the Department have access to filming in Pennsylvania and mandate that earnings continue to be conserved for the children."

Back in May, Kate Plus 8 was the subject of a similar probe to ensure the children were adhering to the following regulations: they can only work between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., except during the summer; they cannot work more than four hours on a school day and no more than 18 hours a week during the school year; and kids can't go longer than five hours without a break.

Looks like everything checks out just fine...for a family whose every waking minute is seemingly captured by cameras.

—Additional reporting by Whitney English