2000 -- H 7004
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LC00931
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2000
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A N A C T
RELATING TO WORK ON HOLIDAYS AND SUNDAYS
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 25-3-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 25-3 entitled "Work on Holidays and Sundays" is hereby amended to read as follows:
25-3-3. Work on Sundays or holidays -- (a) Work performed by employees on Sundays and holidays must be paid for at least one and one half (1 1/2) times the normal rate of pay for the work performed; provided, that it shall not be grounds for discharge or other penalty upon any employee for refusing to work upon any Sunday or holiday enumerated in this section.
(b) Any manufacturer of wall-covering products which operates for seven (7) continuous days per week, twenty-four (24) hours per day, and has complied with the provisions of subsection (a) is exempt from the requirement that the work be voluntary on Sundays as provided in subsection (a); provided, that the manufacturer increases employment by at least ten percent (10%), within one year of its conversion to continuous operation from non-continuous operation.
(c) Any manufacturer that operates three (3) shifts, or begins its work week on Sundays, may begin the shift or start the work week at 11:00 P.M. on Sunday and not be required to pay its employees one and one-half (1 1/2) times the normal rate of pay during the one hour period between 11:00 P.M. Sunday and 12 midnight.
(d)(1) Any existing employer who, on the effective date of this section, operates for seven (7) continuous days per week shall be exempt from the requirement of subsection (a) above pertaining to the rate of pay for work performed on Sunday, if the employer increases the employee's normal rate of pay by an amount equal to the difference between the rate of pay paid to the employee for work performed on Sunday during the calendar year 2000 and the employee's normal rate of pay.
(2) Any existing employer who, subsequent to the effective date of this section, commences and for a period of one year maintains operations on a seven (7) continuous day per week basis shall be exempt from the requirements of subsection (a) above pertaining to the rate of pay for work performed on Sunday.
(3) The requirements of subsection (a) pertaining to work performed on Sunday shall not be applicable to employers who, after the effective date of this section, locate in Rhode Island and commence operating on a seven (7) continuous days per week basis.
(4) The exceptions enumerated (1)-(3) above shall not be applicable to employers in the retail and construction industries.
(5) In order to utilize the exceptions enumerated in (1) and (2) above, an employer must submit a written request to and received written approval from the Department of Labor and Training.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2001.
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LC00931
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO WORK ON HOLIDAYS AND SUNDAYS
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This act makes changes to the "work on Sundays or Holidays" law by exempting certain employers from its requirements if they maintain operations on a 7 day week basis for one year or to employers who locate in Rhode Island and commence operating on a 7 day week basis.
This act would take effect upon passage.
