2020 -- H 7539 | |
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LC004220 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- PAYMENT OF WAGES | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Craven, McEntee, McKiernan, and Millea | |
Date Introduced: February 12, 2020 | |
Referred To: House Judiciary | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Section 28-14-17 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-14 entitled "Payment |
2 | of Wages" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
3 | 28-14-17. Penalty for violations. |
4 | (a) Any employer who violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this |
5 | chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, if the value of the wages due to an employee is less than |
6 | one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), and upon conviction of the misdemeanor, the |
7 | employer shall be punished by a fine of not less than four hundred dollars ($400) for each |
8 | separate offense, or by imprisonment of up to one year, or by both fine and imprisonment. Each |
9 | day of failure to pay wages in any amount set forth in this section and due an employee at the |
10 | time specified in this chapter shall constitute a separate and distinct violation. |
11 | (b) Any employer who violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this |
12 | chapter shall be guilty of a felony if the value of the wages due to an employee exceeds one |
13 | thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) and, upon conviction, shall be subject to the following |
14 | penalties: |
15 | (1) If the value exceeds one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), and is less than five |
16 | thousand dollars ($5,000), by imprisonment for not more than three (3) years or by a fine of not |
17 | more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), or both; |
18 | (2) If the value exceeds five thousand dollars ($5,000), but is less than ten thousand |
19 | dollars ($10,000), by imprisonment for not more than six (6) years or by a fine of not more than |
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1 | three thousand dollars ($3,000), or both; and |
2 | (3) If the value exceeds ten thousand dollars ($10,000), by imprisonment for not more |
3 | than ten (10) years or by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both. |
4 | (b)(c) Any employer found civilly liable or guilty of violations of this chapter by the |
5 | department or a court of competent jurisdiction who does not pay wages and fines within thirty |
6 | (30) days of a final decision and after notification by the department of labor and training, may |
7 | have his, her or its business license revoked by the state of Rhode Island until he, she or it pays |
8 | such wages and fines in full or enters into a payment agreement with which he, she or it stays in |
9 | compliance. |
10 | 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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1 | This act would make violations or failures to comply with any provisions of the chapter |
2 | relating to payment of wages by any employer a felony if the value of the unpaid wages amounts |
3 | to more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500). Upon conviction of the offense the |
4 | employer would be punished by fines, or imprisonment, or both. |
5 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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