Posted Saturday, August 16 --- 12:20pm

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The state Department of Workforce Development now says kids can perform at festivals such as Milwaukee's Summerfest.

The agency backtracked from its interpretation of state law Thursday. The agency said then that child labor laws prevented kids from performing at taverns and similar venues, which the agency interpreted as anywhere alcohol is served.

State Sen. Neal Kedzie, an Elkhorn Republican, questioned whether that interpretation would bar performances at church festivals, county fairs and other community gatherings.

Kedzie has been working to get a clarification of child labor laws on behalf of 8-year-old blues prodigy Tallan Latz. Workforce Development has banned Latz from playing in bars, saying the laws clearly prohibit that.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.