2017 -- H 5932 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED

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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 28-14-3.2 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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     28-14-3.2. Deductions not authorized.

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     (a) No employer shall deduct or withhold from the payment of wages owed to an

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employee for the performance of work or other reason set forth in this chapter, any monies not

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authorized by federal or state law or by court order, without first getting written or electronic

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approval from the employee. However, a deduction shall never be authorized by an employee or

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deducted by an employer from an employee's wage for:

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     (1) Spoilage or breakage;

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     (2) 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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     (b) In addition to any other penalty or enforcement provision set forth in this chapter, any

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employer violating the provisions of this section shall be subject to treble damages, payable to the

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employee, of the amount not authorized to be deducted or withheld

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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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