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

     

     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:

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     SECTION 1. Section 28-14-17 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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     28-14-17. Penalty for violations.

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     (a) Any employer who violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this

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chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, if the value of the wages due to an employee is less than

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one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), and upon conviction of the misdemeanor, the

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employer shall be punished by a fine of not less than four hundred dollars ($400) for each

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separate offense, or by imprisonment of up to one year, or by both fine and imprisonment. Each

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day of failure to pay wages in any amount set forth in this section and due an employee at the

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time specified in this chapter shall constitute a separate and distinct violation.

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     (b) Any employer who violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this

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chapter shall be guilty of a felony if the value of the wages due to an employee exceeds one

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thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) and, upon conviction, shall be subject to the following

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penalties:

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     (1) If the value exceeds one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), and is less than five

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thousand dollars ($5,000), by imprisonment for not more than three (3) years or by a fine of not

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more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), or both;

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     (2) If the value exceeds five thousand dollars ($5,000), but is less than ten thousand

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dollars ($10,000), by imprisonment for not more than six (6) years or by a fine of not more than

 

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three thousand dollars ($3,000), or both; and

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     (3) If the value exceeds ten thousand dollars ($10,000), by imprisonment for not more

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than ten (10) years or by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both.

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     (b)(c) Any employer found civilly liable or guilty of violations of this chapter by the

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department or a court of competent jurisdiction who does not pay wages and fines within thirty

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(30) days of a final decision and after notification by the department of labor and training, may

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have his, her or its business license revoked by the state of Rhode Island until he, she or it pays

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such wages and fines in full or enters into a payment agreement with which he, she or it stays in

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compliance.

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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 make violations or failures to comply with any provisions of the chapter

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relating to payment of wages by any employer a felony if the value of the unpaid wages amounts

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to more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500). Upon conviction of the offense the

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employer would be punished by fines, or imprisonment, or both.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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