2022 -- H 7677

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LC005018

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- PAYMENTS OF WAGES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Craven, Caldwell, and Morales

     Date Introduced: March 02, 2022

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     (Attorney General)

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 of

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Wages" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     28-14-17. Penalty for violations.

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     (a) Any Except as otherwise provided in this section, any employer who violates or fails to

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comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon

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conviction of the misdemeanor, the employer shall be punished by a fine of not less than four

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hundred dollars ($400) for each separate offense, or by imprisonment of up to one year, or by both

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fine and imprisonment. Each day of failure to pay wages due an employee at the time specified in

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this chapter shall constitute a separate and distinct violation.

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     (b) Any employer who knowingly or willfully violates or fails to comply with § 28-14-2

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or § 28-14-4 shall be guilty of a felony if the value of the wages due to an employee is one thousand

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five hundred dollars ($1,500) or more and upon plea or 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 twice the value of the wages, or both.

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

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

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value of the wages, or both.

 

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

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ten (10) years or by a fine of not more than twice the value of the wages, or both.

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     (c) Any employer who knowingly or willfully violates § 28-14-19.1 shall be guilty of a

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felony and shall be subject to the following penalties upon plea or conviction:

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     (1) In instances of a first offense of a knowing or willful violation of § 28-14-19.1, by

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imprisonment for not more than three (3) years or by a fine of not more than twice the value of the

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wages or ten thousand dollars ($10,000), whichever is greater, or both.

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     (2) In instances of a second or subsequent offense of a knowing or willful violation of §

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28-14-19.1, by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years or a fine of not more than three (3)

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times the value of the wages or twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), whichever is greater, or both.

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     (b)(d) Any employer found guilty of violations of this chapter who does not pay wages and

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fines within thirty (30) days of a final decision and after notification by the department of labor and

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

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

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stays in 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 -- PAYMENTS OF WAGES

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     This act would increase the criminal penalties for wage theft and employee

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misclassification.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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