2018 -- H 7117

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LC003173

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- PAYMENT OF WAGES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Ranglin-Vassell, Ajello, and Lombardi

     Date Introduced: January 11, 2018

     Referred To: House Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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Wages" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     28-14-1. Definitions.

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     Whenever used in this chapter:

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     (1) "Director" means the director of the department of labor and training or his or her

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duly authorized representative.

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     (2) "Employee" means any person suffered or permitted to work by an employer, except

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that independent contractors or subcontractors shall not be considered employees.

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     (3) "Employer" means any individual, firm, partnership, association, joint stock

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company, trust, corporation, receiver, or other like officer appointed by a court of this state, and

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any agent or officer of any of the previously mentioned classes, employing any person in this

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state.

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     (4)(i) "Labor contractor" means an employer or a natural person, business, corporation, or

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entity of any kind, regardless of its form, that provides a lead entity with employees, independent

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contractors, subcontractors, or workers of any kind to perform labor or services.

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     (ii) No requirement of a valid contract, written or otherwise, is implied by the term "labor

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contractor."

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     (iii) Independent contractors, subcontractors, or workers of any kind providing employees

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to a lead entity, can be indirect or conducted through third-party subcontractors.

 

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     (5) "Lead entity" means an employer or a natural person, business, corporation, or

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business entity of any kind, regardless of its form, that obtains or is provided one or more

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worker(s) to perform labor or services related to the lead entity's business activities, operations, or

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purposes from a labor contractor.

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     (4)(6) "Wages" means all amounts at which the labor or service rendered is recompensed,

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whether the amount is fixed or ascertained on a time, task, piece, commission basis, or other

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method of calculating the amount.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 28-14 of the General Laws entitled "Payment of Wages" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     28-14-19.4. Lead entity liability.

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     (a) A lead entity shall share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil

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liability for all workers supplied by that labor contractor for any violation of title 28. For purposes

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of this section, the president and treasurer of a corporation and any officers or agents having the

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management of such corporation shall also be deemed civilly liable for a violation of title 28.

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     (b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section are in addition to, and shall be

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supplemental to any other theories of liability, grounds for enforcement action, or requirements

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established by statute or law.

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     (c) This section does not prohibit any person from establishing, exercising, or enforcing

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any otherwise lawful rights or remedies.

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     SECTION 3. 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 define and recognize the existence and potential liability of lead entities

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concerning the payment of wages.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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