2019 -- H 5892

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LC001240

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HOLIDAYS AND DAYS OF SPECIAL OBSERVANCE

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Edwards, Kennedy, Casimiro, Cortvriend, and Cassar

     Date Introduced: March 22, 2019

     Referred To: House Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 25-3-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 25-3 entitled "Work on

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Holidays and Sundays" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     25-3-1. Definitions.

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     As used in this chapter:

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     (1) "Director" means the director of the department of labor and training;

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     (2) "Economic necessity" means and refers to any case where the director determines

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that:

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     (i) Both the economics and technology of manufacture of the product or a component of

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the product requires continuous conversion or processing of raw materials, intermediates, or

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components without interruption to avoid disproportionate loss of production capacity;

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     (ii) The economics and technology of data processing requires the continuous operation

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of data processing equipment to avoid deterioration of equipment or a disproportionate loss of

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computer capacity or where customer requirements are that data processing equipment must be

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available for input or output on a continuous basis;

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     (iii) Because prevailing industry practice in the manufacturing or processing of the

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product or in the provision of banking or financial services is to operate facilities within that

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industry seven (7) days per week, the failure to operate on one or more Sundays or holidays will

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subject the employer to a competitive hardship within the industry in which the employer

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competes;

 

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     (iv) Maintenance or improvement of plant or equipment cannot practically or efficiently

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be performed while production is in process;

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     (v) The scheduling of production on Sundays or holidays is necessitated by interrupted or

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allocated energy supplies, or shortages of raw materials or component parts;

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     (vi) An employer has been deprived of its normal production schedule by fire, flood,

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power failure, or other circumstances beyond its control; or

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     (vii) Circumstances, temporary in nature, are that undue economic hardship would result

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from the inability to operate on one or more Sundays or holidays;

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     (3) "Employee" means any individual employed by an employer, but shall not include:

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     (i) Any individual employed in agriculture or maritime trades, including commercial

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fishing or boat repairs;

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     (ii) Any physician, dentist, attorney at law, or accountant;

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     (iii) Any individual engaged in the provision of health care or maintenance;

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     (iv) Any individual employed in a food service establishment, which shall include a

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restaurant, caterer licensed by the department of health and the division of taxation, food truck,

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hotel, motel, summer camp, resort, or other recreational facility (except health clubs);

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     (v) Any individual employed in the business of offshore petroleum or gas exploration or

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extraction, or in the business of servicing or supplying persons engaged in exploration or

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extraction;

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     (vi) Supervisory employees as defined in 29 U.S.C. § 213(a)(1) and regulations issued

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pursuant to that section;

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     (vii) Any individual employed by an employer holding a license issued pursuant to

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chapter 23 of title 5; or

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     (viii) Any individual employed as part of a telephonic delivery of customer service, sales

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operations, and ancillary services related to those services and operations, except for specific

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employment positions in the telecommunications industry that are part of any collective

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bargaining agreement or employment contract in effect on July 2, 1998.

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     (4) "Employer" means any natural person, partnership, firm, corporation, or other

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enterprise engaged in industry, transportation, communication, or any other commercial

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occupation involving one or more employees; and

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     (5) "Holidays" means Sunday, New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Victory Day,

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Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas; provided, that as it

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pertains to all offices of state and municipal government, the term "holiday" includes in addition

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to the holidays enumerated in this subdivision, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday, as defined

 

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in § 25-2-18.

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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 HOLIDAYS AND DAYS OF SPECIAL OBSERVANCE

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     This act would expand the definition of "employee" to add any individual employed in a

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food service establishment, which would include a caterer licensed by the department of health

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and division of taxation, and a food truck.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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