2015 -- S 0136

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LC000450

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - PAYMENT OF WAGES

     Introduced By: Senators Lombardi, Lombardo, Archambault, DiPalma, and Ciccone

     Date Introduced: January 22, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 28-14-17 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-14 entitled "Payment

of Wages" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     28-14-17. Penalty for violations. -- Any employer who violates or fails to comply with

any of the provisions of this chapter, upon a conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction or

upon a plea of nolo contendere, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. All alleged violations of this

section shall be referred to and be prosecuted by the office of the attorney general. and upon

Upon conviction of the misdemeanor the employer shall be punished by a fine of not less than

four hundred dollars ($400) for each separate offense, or by imprisonment of up to one year, or

by both fine and imprisonment. Each day of failure to pay wages due an employee at the time

specified in this chapter shall constitute a separate and distinct violation.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - PAYMENT OF WAGES

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     This act requires all violations relative to the payment of wages to be referred to the

attorney general for prosecution.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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