House Bill #5932 (2017)
AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - PAYMENT OF WAGES
Prohibits employers from making deductions from an employee's wages except for those deductions authorized or required by law, or as expressly authorized in writing by the employee.
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2017-03-16: Introduced, referred to House Labor
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2017-03-24: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/30/2017)
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2017-03-30: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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2017-05-19: Scheduled for consideration
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2017-05-19: Scheduled for consideration (05/25/2017)
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2017-05-24: Meeting postponed (05/25/2017)
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2017-06-02: Scheduled for consideration (06/08/2017)
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2017-06-08: Committee recommends passage of Sub A
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2017-06-09: Placed on House Calendar (06/21/2017)
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2017-06-09: Placed on House Calendar (06/15/2017)
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2017-06-21: Referred to Senate Labor
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2017-06-21: House passed Sub A as amended (floor amendment)
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2017-06-26: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (06/28/2017)
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2017-06-28: Committee recommends passage of Sub A as amended in concurrence
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2017-06-29: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar
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2017-06-29: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/29/2017)
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2017-06-29: Placed on Senate Calendar (06/29/2017)
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2017-06-29: Placed on Senate Calendar (06/30/2017)
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2017-09-14: Placed on Senate Calendar (09/19/2017)
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2017-09-19: Senate passed Sub A as amended in concurrence
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2017-09-25: Transmitted to Governor
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2017-09-27: Signed by Governor
Changes since original draft
2017 – H 5932
- 2017 – H 5932 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED
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LC002015
- LC002015/SUB A
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S TATE OF RHODE IS L AND
- 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. 2017
____________
A N A C T
- ____________
- A N A C T
- RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - PAYMENT OF WAGES
Introduced By: Representatives Craven, and McEntee
Date Introduced: March 16, 2017
Referred To: House Labor
It is enacted by the GeneralAssembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 28-14-24 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-14 entitled "Payment of Wages"is hereby amended to read as follows:
28-14-24. Set-off of money owed by employee to employer.
(a) Wages shall not be subject to any deductions, except for allowances authorized by title 28, or otherwise authorized or required by law. Prohibited deductions include, but are not limited to:
(1) Deductions for spoilage or breakage;
(2) Deductions for cash shortages or losses; and
(3) Fines or penalties for tardiness, misconduct, or quitting by an employee without notice.
(b) In any action for unpaid wages brought under the provisions of this chapter, the employer-debtor shall not deduct as a set-off or counterclaim:
(1) Any money allegedly due the employer as compensation for damages caused to the employer's property by the negligence of the employee;
(2) Any money allegedly due the employer as rent; or
(3) Any money allegedly owed to the employer by the employee;
(b)(c) Provided, that any employer granting his employee a loan or advance against future earnings or wages may deduct the loan as a set-off or counterclaim if evidenced by a statement in writing signed by the employee. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or restrict in any way any rights which the employer now has to recover, by a separate legalaction, any money owed the employer by the employee.
(d) Any employee or former employee aggrieved by a violation of this section shall be entitled to the same rights and protections as provided for in §28-14-19.
SECTION 2. This act shalltake effect upon passage. ======== LC002015 ========
LC002015 - Page 2of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - PAYMENT OF WAGES
***
This act would prohibit employers from deducting from their employees' wages for spoilage, breakage, cash shortages, losses, fines, or penalties for tardiness, misconduct or quitting by an employee without notice.
This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC002015 ========
LC002015 - Page 3of 3
- Introduced By: Representatives Craven, and McEntee
- Date Introduced: March 16, 2017
- Referred To: House Labor
- It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
- SECTION 1. Section 28-14-3.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-14 entitled "Payment of Wages" is hereby amended to read as follows:
- 28-14-3.2. Deductions not authorized.
- (a) No employer shall deduct or withhold from the payment of wages owed to an employee for the performance of work or other reason set forth in this chapter, any monies not authorized by federal or state law or by court order, without first getting written or electronic approval from the employee. However, a deduction shall never be authorized by an employee or deducted by an employer from an employee's wage for:
- (1) Spoilage or breakage;
- (2) Shortages or losses; or
- (3) Fines or penalties for tardiness, misconduct, or quitting by an employee without notice.
- (b) In addition to any other penalty or enforcement provision set forth in this chapter, any employer violating the provisions of this section shall be subject to treble damages, payable to the employee, of the amount not authorized to be deducted or withheld SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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- LC002015/SUB A
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- EXPLANATION
- BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
- OF
- A N A C T
- RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - PAYMENT OF WAGES
- ***
- This act would prohibit employers from making deductions from an employee's wages except for those deductions authorized or required by law, or as expressly authorized in writing by the employee. This act would authorize deductions to be authorized by a collective bargaining agreement.
- This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC002015/SUB A ========
Votes
NOTE: Electronic voting records are unofficial and may not be accurate. For an official vote tally, check the
House or Senate Journal from the day of the vote.
Floor vote for PASSAGE
PASSAGE OF AMENDMENT
June 21, 2017 at 4:51pm
Yeas: 70 /
Nays: 0 /
Not voting: 5 /
Recused: 0
Floor vote for PASSAGE
AS AMENDED
June 21, 2017 at 5:00pm
Yeas: 60 /
Nays: 12 /
Not voting: 3 /
Recused: 0