2017 -- H 5932 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC002015/SUB A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - PAYMENT OF WAGES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Craven, and McEntee

     Date Introduced: March 16, 2017

     Referred To: House Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 28-14-24 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-14 entitled "Payment

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of Wages" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     28-14-24. Set-off of money owed by employee to employer.

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     (a) No employer shall make any deductions from an employee's wages except for those

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deductions authorized or required by federal or state law, or expressly authorized in writing by

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the employee. A deduction shall be authorized by the employee if agreed to in a collective

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bargaining agreement between the representative of the employee and the employer or by a

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written agreement between the employer and the employee that is express, written, voluntary, and

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informed. An authorization is informed when the employee is provided with written notice of all

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terms and conditions of the deduction and the details of the manner in which deductions shall be

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made.

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     (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of §28-14-24(a), an employer shall not deduct from

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an employee's wage:

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     (1) Any amount for spoilage or breakage;

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     (2) Any amount for shortages or losses; or

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     (3) Fines or penalties for tardiness, misconduct, or quitting by an employee without

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notice.

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     (c) In any action for unpaid wages brought under the provisions of this chapter, the

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employer-debtor shall not deduct as a set-off or counterclaim:

 

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     (1) Any money allegedly due the employer as compensation for damages caused to the

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employer's property by the negligence of the employee;

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     (2) Any money allegedly due the employer as rent; or

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     (3) Any money allegedly owed to the employer by the employee;

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     (b)(d) Provided, that any employer granting his employee a loan or advance against

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future earnings or wages may deduct the loan as a set-off or counterclaim if evidenced by a

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statement in writing signed by the employee. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or

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restrict in any way any rights which the employer now has to recover, by a separate legal action,

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any money owed the employer by the employee.

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     (e) Any employee or former employee aggrieved by a violation of this section shall be

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entitled to the same rights and protections as provided for in §28-14-19.

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     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 would prohibit employers from making deductions from an employee's wages

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except for those deductions authorized or required by law, or as expressly authorized in writing

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by the employee. This act would authorize deductions to be authorized by a collective bargaining

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agreement.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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