2017 -- S 0350 SUBSTITUTE B

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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: Senators Lombardi, P Fogarty, Jabour, Archambault, and Lombardo

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

      SECTION 1. Section 28-14-3.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-14 entitled "Payment

of Wages" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     28-14-3.2. Deductions not authorized.

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

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

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

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

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

     (1) Spoilage or breakage;

     (2) Shortages or losses; or

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

notice.

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

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

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

     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

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

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

agreement.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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