Bill Text: NY S08380 | 2009-2010 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes the wage theft prevention act providing for certain notifications to employees in their primary languages and protections for employees.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 25-0)
Status: (Passed) 2010-12-10 - SIGNED CHAP.564 [S08380 Detail]
Download: New_York-2009-S08380-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 8380 I N S E N A T E June 27, 2010 ___________ Introduced by Sen. SAVINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to establishing the wage theft prevention act THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "wage theft 2 prevention act". 3 S 2. Section 2 of the labor law is amended by adding a new subdivision 4 16 to read as follows: 5 16. ALL REFERENCES TO LABOR LAW, CHAPTER, ARTICLE OR SECTION SHALL BE 6 DEEMED TO INCLUDE ANY RULE, REGULATION OR ORDER PROMULGATED THEREUNDER 7 OR RELATED THERETO. 8 S 3. Subdivisions 1, 2, 3 and 4 of section 195 of the labor law, as 9 added by chapter 548 of the laws of 1966 and subdivision 1 as amended by 10 chapter 270 of the laws of 2009, are amended to read as follows: 11 1. (A) [notify] PROVIDE his or her employees, in writing IN ENGLISH 12 AND IN THE LANGUAGE IDENTIFIED BY EACH EMPLOYEE AS THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE 13 OF SUCH EMPLOYEE, at the time of hiring [of], AND ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 14 FIRST OF EACH SUBSEQUENT YEAR OF THE EMPLOYEE'S EMPLOYMENT WITH THE 15 EMPLOYER, A NOTICE CONTAINING THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: the rate OR 16 RATES of pay and [of] BASIS THEREOF, WHETHER PAID BY THE HOUR, SHIFT, 17 DAY, WEEK, SALARY, PIECE, COMMISSION, OR OTHER; ALLOWANCES, IF ANY, 18 CLAIMED AS PART OF THE MINIMUM WAGE, INCLUDING TIP, MEAL, OR LODGING 19 ALLOWANCES; the regular pay day designated by the employer in accordance 20 with section one hundred ninety-one of this article[, and]; THE NAME OF 21 THE EMPLOYER; ANY "DOING BUSINESS AS" NAMES USED BY THE EMPLOYER; THE 22 PHYSICAL ADDRESS OF THE EMPLOYER'S MAIN OFFICE OR PRINCIPAL PLACE OF 23 BUSINESS, AND A MAILING ADDRESS IF DIFFERENT; THE TELEPHONE NUMBER OF 24 THE EMPLOYER; PLUS SUCH OTHER INFORMATION AS THE COMMISSIONER DEEMS 25 MATERIAL AND NECESSARY. EACH TIME THE EMPLOYER PROVIDES SUCH NOTICE TO 26 AN EMPLOYEE, THE EMPLOYER SHALL obtain FROM THE EMPLOYEE a SIGNED AND 27 DATED written acknowledgement [from each employee], IN ENGLISH AND IN 28 THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE OF THE EMPLOYEE, of receipt of this notice, WHICH EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD17901-01-0 S. 8380 2 1 THE EMPLOYER SHALL PRESERVE AND MAINTAIN FOR SIX YEARS. Such acknowl- 2 edgement shall INCLUDE AN AFFIRMATION BY THE EMPLOYEE THAT THE EMPLOYEE 3 ACCURATELY IDENTIFIED HIS OR HER PRIMARY LANGUAGE TO THE EMPLOYER, AND 4 THAT THE NOTICE PROVIDED BY THE EMPLOYER TO SUCH EMPLOYEE PURSUANT TO 5 THIS SUBDIVISION WAS IN THE LANGUAGE SO IDENTIFIED OR OTHERWISE COMPLIED 6 WITH PARAGRAPH (C) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, AND SHALL conform to any ADDI- 7 TIONAL requirements established by the commissioner with regard to 8 content and form. For all employees who are [eligible for] NOT EXEMPT 9 FROM overtime compensation as established in the commissioner's minimum 10 wage orders or otherwise provided by NEW YORK STATE law or regulation, 11 the notice must state the regular hourly rate and overtime rate of pay; 12 (B) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PREPARE TEMPLATES THAT COMPLY WITH THE 13 REQUIREMENTS OF PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION. EACH SUCH TEMPLATE 14 SHALL BE DUAL-LANGUAGE, INCLUDING ENGLISH AND ONE ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE. 15 THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DETERMINE, IN HIS OR HER DISCRETION, WHICH 16 LANGUAGES TO PROVIDE IN ADDITION TO ENGLISH, BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE 17 NEW YORK STATE POPULATION THAT SPEAKS EACH LANGUAGE AND ANY OTHER FACTOR 18 THAT THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DEEM RELEVANT. ALL SUCH TEMPLATES SHALL BE 19 MADE AVAILABLE TO EMPLOYERS IN SUCH MANNER AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMIS- 20 SIONER; 21 (C) WHEN AN EMPLOYEE IDENTIFIES AS HIS OR HER PRIMARY LANGUAGE A 22 LANGUAGE FOR WHICH A TEMPLATE IS NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE COMMISSIONER, 23 THE EMPLOYER SHALL COMPLY WITH THIS SUBDIVISION BY PROVIDING THAT 24 EMPLOYEE AN ENGLISH-LANGUAGE NOTICE OR ACKNOWLEDGMENT; 25 (D) AN EMPLOYER SHALL NOT BE PENALIZED FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE 26 NON-ENGLISH PORTIONS OF ANY NOTICE PROVIDED BY THE COMMISSIONER; 27 (E) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL HAVE DISCRETION TO WAIVE OR ALTER REQUIRE- 28 MENTS OF PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION FOR TEMPORARY HELP FIRMS AS 29 DEFINED IN SECTION NINE HUNDRED SIXTEEN OF THIS CHAPTER. 30 2. notify his OR HER employees IN WRITING of any changes TO THE INFOR- 31 MATION SET FORTH in [the pay] SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION, AT LEAST 32 SEVEN CALENDAR days prior to the time of such changes, UNLESS SUCH 33 CHANGES ARE REFLECTED ON THE WAGE STATEMENT FURNISHED IN ACCORDANCE WITH 34 SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION; 35 3. furnish each employee with a statement with every payment of wages, 36 listing THE FOLLOWING: THE DATES OF WORK COVERED BY THAT PAYMENT OF 37 WAGES; NAME OF EMPLOYEE; NAME OF EMPLOYER; ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER OF 38 EMPLOYER; RATE OR RATES OF PAY AND BASIS THEREOF, WHETHER PAID BY THE 39 HOUR, SHIFT, DAY, WEEK, SALARY, PIECE, COMMISSION, OR OTHER; gross 40 wages[,]; deductions; ALLOWANCES, IF ANY, CLAIMED AS PART OF THE MINIMUM 41 WAGE; and net wages[, and upon]. FOR ALL EMPLOYEES WHO ARE NOT EXEMPT 42 FROM OVERTIME COMPENSATION AS ESTABLISHED IN THE COMMISSIONER'S MINIMUM 43 WAGE ORDERS OR OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY NEW YORK STATE LAW OR REGULATION, 44 THE STATEMENT SHALL INCLUDE THE REGULAR HOURLY RATE OR RATES OF PAY; THE 45 OVERTIME RATE OR RATES OF PAY; THE NUMBER OF REGULAR HOURS WORKED, AND 46 THE NUMBER OF OVERTIME HOURS WORKED. FOR ALL EMPLOYEES PAID A PIECE 47 RATE, THE STATEMENT SHALL INCLUDE THE APPLICABLE PIECE RATE OR RATES OF 48 PAY AND NUMBER OF PIECES COMPLETED AT EACH PIECE RATE. UPON the request 49 of an employee, AN EMPLOYER SHALL furnish an explanation IN WRITING of 50 how such wages were computed; 51 4. establish, maintain and preserve for not less than [three] SIX 52 years CONTEMPORANEOUS, TRUE, AND ACCURATE payroll records showing FOR 53 EACH WEEK WORKED the hours worked[,]; THE RATE OR RATES OF PAY AND BASIS 54 THEREOF, WHETHER PAID BY THE HOUR, SHIFT, DAY, WEEK, SALARY, PIECE, 55 COMMISSION, OR OTHER; gross wages[,]; deductions; ALLOWANCES, IF ANY, 56 CLAIMED AS PART OF THE MINIMUM WAGE; and net wages for each employee. S. 8380 3 1 FOR ALL EMPLOYEES WHO ARE NOT EXEMPT FROM OVERTIME COMPENSATION AS 2 ESTABLISHED IN THE COMMISSIONER'S MINIMUM WAGE ORDERS OR OTHERWISE 3 PROVIDED BY NEW YORK STATE LAW OR REGULATION, THE PAYROLL RECORDS SHALL 4 INCLUDE THE REGULAR HOURLY RATE OR RATES OF PAY, THE OVERTIME RATE OR 5 RATES OF PAY, THE NUMBER OF REGULAR HOURS WORKED, AND THE NUMBER OF 6 OVERTIME HOURS WORKED. FOR ALL EMPLOYEES PAID A PIECE RATE, THE PAYROLL 7 RECORDS SHALL INCLUDE THE APPLICABLE PIECE RATE OR RATES OF PAY AND 8 NUMBER OF PIECES COMPLETED AT EACH PIECE RATE; 9 S 4. Section 196 of the labor law, as added by chapter 548 of the laws 10 of 1966, paragraph b of subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 328 of the 11 laws of 1972 and paragraph e of subdivision 1 as added by chapter 336 of 12 the laws of 1985, is amended to read as follows: 13 S 196. Powers of commissioner. 1. In addition to the powers of the 14 commissioner specified in other sections of this chapter, the commis- 15 sioner shall have the following duties, powers and authority: 16 a. He OR SHE shall investigate and attempt to adjust equitably contro- 17 versies between employers and employees relating to THIS ARTICLE, OR 18 ARTICLE FIVE, SEVEN, NINETEEN OR NINETEEN-A OF this [article] CHAPTER. 19 b. He OR SHE may take assignments of claims for wages [as defined in] 20 UNDER this [article] CHAPTER from employees or third parties in trust 21 for such employees or for the benefit of various funds for such employ- 22 ees. All such assignments shall run to the commissioner and his OR HER 23 successor in office. The commissioner may sue employers on wage claims 24 thus assigned, with the benefits and subject to the provisions of exist- 25 ing law applying to actions by employees for collection of wages. He OR 26 SHE may join in a single action any number of wage claims against the 27 same employer. 28 c. He OR SHE may institute proceedings on account of any criminal 29 violation of any provision of THIS ARTICLE, OR ARTICLE FIVE, SEVEN, 30 NINETEEN OR NINETEEN-A OF this [article] CHAPTER. 31 d. If it shall appear to him OR HER that any employer has been 32 convicted of a violation of any provision of this article OR ARTICLE 33 NINETEEN OR NINETEEN-A OF THIS CHAPTER or that any [judgement] ORDER TO 34 COMPLY ISSUED against an employer [for non-payment of wages] UNDER THIS 35 CHAPTER remains unsatisfied for a period of ten days after the time to 36 appeal therefrom has expired, and that no appeal therefrom is then pend- 37 ing, the commissioner may require such employer to deposit with him OR 38 HER a bond in such sum as he OR SHE may deem sufficient and adequate in 39 the circumstances, together with two or more sureties or a duly author- 40 ized surety company, to be approved by the commissioner. The bond shall 41 be payable to the commissioner and shall be conditioned that the employ- 42 er will, for a definite future period, not exceeding two years, pay his 43 OR HER employees in accordance with the provisions of this article OR 44 ARTICLE NINETEEN OR NINETEEN-A OF THIS CHAPTER, and shall be further 45 conditioned upon the payment by the employer of any AMOUNTS DUE PURSUANT 46 TO AN ORDER TO COMPLY OR judgment [which may be recovered] against such 47 employer pursuant to the provisions of this article OR ARTICLE NINETEEN 48 OR NINETEEN-A OF THIS CHAPTER. 49 If within ten days after demand for such bond, which demand may be 50 made by certified or registered mail, such employer shall fail to depos- 51 it the same, the commissioner may bring an action in the name and on 52 behalf of the people of the state of New York against such employer in 53 the supreme court to compel such employer to furnish such a bond or to 54 cease doing business until he OR SHE has done so. The employer shall 55 have the burden of proving that either such a bond is unnecessary or 56 that the amount demanded is excessive. If the court finds that there is S. 8380 4 1 just cause for requiring the bond and that same is reasonably necessary 2 or proper to secure prompt payment of the wages of the employees of such 3 employer and his OR HER compliance with the provisions of this article 4 OR ARTICLE NINETEEN OR NINETEEN-A OF THIS CHAPTER, the court may enjoin 5 such employer and such other person or persons as may have been or may 6 be concerned with or in any way participating in the failure to pay the 7 wages resulting in the conviction [or in the judgment] OR ORDER TO 8 COMPLY as aforesaid, from doing business until the requirement is met 9 and make other and further orders appropriate to compel compliance with 10 the requirement. 11 IF ANY ORDER TO COMPLY ISSUED AGAINST AN EMPLOYER UNDER THIS ARTICLE 12 OR ARTICLE NINETEEN OR NINETEEN-A OF THIS CHAPTER REMAINS UNSATISFIED 13 FOR A PERIOD OF TEN DAYS AFTER THE TIME TO APPEAL THEREFROM HAS EXPIRED, 14 AND THAT NO APPEAL THEREFROM IS THEN PENDING, THE COMMISSIONER MAY 15 REQUIRE THE EMPLOYER TO PROVIDE AN ACCOUNTING OF ASSETS OF THE EMPLOYER, 16 INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, A LIST OF ALL BANK ACCOUNTS, ACCOUNTS 17 RECEIVABLE, PERSONAL PROPERTY, REAL PROPERTY, AUTOMOBILES OR OTHER VEHI- 18 CLES, AND ANY OTHER ASSETS, IN A FORM AND MANNER AS PRESCRIBED BY THE 19 COMMISSIONER. AN EMPLOYER SHALL PROVIDE SUCH AMENDED ACCOUNTINGS OF 20 ASSETS AS THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ORDER. IF WITHIN TEN DAYS AFTER DEMAND 21 FOR SUCH AN ACCOUNTING OF ASSETS, WHICH DEMAND MAY BE MADE BY CERTIFIED 22 OR REGISTERED MAIL, SUCH EMPLOYER SHALL FAIL TO PROVIDE SAME, OR IF THE 23 EMPLOYER FAILS TO PROVIDE AN AMENDED ACCOUNTING AS REQUIRED UNDER THIS 24 SECTION, THE COMMISSIONER MAY BRING AN ACTION IN THE NAME AND ON BEHALF 25 OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AGAINST SUCH EMPLOYER IN THE 26 SUPREME COURT TO COMPEL SUCH EMPLOYER TO FURNISH THE ACCOUNTING AND PAY 27 A CIVIL PENALTY OF NO MORE THAN TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. 28 e. He OR SHE is hereby authorized and empowered to enter into recipro- 29 cal agreements with the labor department or corresponding agency of any 30 other state or with the person, board, officer, or commission authorized 31 to act on behalf of such department or agency, for the collection in 32 such other states of claims and judgments for wages based upon claims 33 assigned to the commissioner. 34 The commissioner may, to the extent provided for by any reciprocal 35 agreement entered into by law or with any agency of another state as 36 herein provided, maintain actions in the courts of such other state for 37 the collection of claims and judgments for wages and may assign such 38 claims and judgments to the labor department or agency of such other 39 state for collection to the extent that such an assignment may be 40 permitted or provided for by the law of such state or by reciprocal 41 agreement. 42 The commissioner may, upon the written consent of the labor department 43 or other corresponding agency of any other state or of any person, 44 board, officer or commission of such state authorized to act on behalf 45 of such labor department or corresponding agency, maintain actions in 46 the courts of this state upon assigned claims and judgments for wages 47 arising in such other state in the same manner and to the same extent 48 that such actions by the commissioner are authorized when arising in 49 this state. However, such actions may be maintained only in cases where 50 such other state by law or reciprocal agreement extends a like comity to 51 cases arising in this state. 52 2. Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring the commis- 53 sioner in every instance to investigate and attempt to adjust controver- 54 sies, or to take assignments of wage claims, or to institute criminal 55 prosecutions for any violation under this article OR ARTICLE FIVE, S. 8380 5 1 SEVEN, NINETEEN OR NINETEEN-A OF THIS CHAPTER, but he OR SHE shall be 2 deemed vested with discretion in such matters. 3 S 5. Section 196-a of the labor law, as amended by chapter 417 of the 4 laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows: 5 S 196-a. Complaints by employees to commissioner. (a) Any employee[,]; 6 PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ACTING ON THE EMPLOYEE'S BEHALF; or the recog- 7 nized and certified collective bargaining agent acting on the employee's 8 behalf, may file with the commissioner a complaint regarding a violation 9 of this article, article FIVE, SEVEN, nineteen, or [article] nineteen-A 10 of this chapter for an investigation of such complaint and statement 11 setting the appropriate remedy, if any. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL KEEP THE 12 NAMES OF EMPLOYEES THAT ARE THE SUBJECT OF AN INVESTIGATION CONFIDENTIAL 13 UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT DISCLOSURE IS NECESSARY FOR RESOLUTION OF AN INVES- 14 TIGATION OR A COMPLAINT. Failure of an employer to keep adequate records 15 OR PROVIDE STATEMENTS OF WAGES TO EMPLOYEES AS REQUIRED UNDER THIS CHAP- 16 TER, in addition to exposing such employer to penalties authorized under 17 subdivision one of section two hundred eighteen of this chapter, shall 18 not operate as a bar to filing of a complaint by an employee. In such a 19 case the employer in violation shall bear the burden of proving that the 20 complaining employee was paid wages, benefits and wage supplements. 21 (b) Any employee, or the recognized and certified collective bargain- 22 ing agent acting on the employee's behalf, contractor, or the recognized 23 and certified labor organization with which the contractor has executed 24 a collective bargaining agreement covering wages, benefits and supple- 25 ments, may file with the commissioner a complaint regarding an alleged 26 violation of this article or article nineteen of this chapter occasioned 27 by another person, corporation, employer or entities in violation of 28 article thirty-five-E of the general business law for an investigation 29 of such complaint and statement setting the appropriate remedy, if any. 30 S 6. Section 197 of the labor law, as amended by chapter 427 of the 31 laws of 2002, is amended to read as follows: 32 S 197. Civil penalty. Any employer who fails to pay the wages of his 33 employees or shall differentiate in rate of pay because of sex, as 34 provided in this article, shall forfeit to the people of the state the 35 sum of five hundred dollars for each such failure, to be recovered by 36 the commissioner in ANY LEGAL ACTION NECESSARY, INCLUDING ADMINISTRATIVE 37 ACTION OR a civil action. 38 S 7. Section 198 of the labor law, as added by chapter 548 of the laws 39 of 1966, subdivision 1-a as amended by chapter 372 of the laws of 2009 40 and subdivision 3 as amended by chapter 605 of the laws of 1997, is 41 amended to read as follows: 42 S 198. Costs, remedies. 1. In any action instituted upon a wage claim 43 by an employee or the commissioner in which the employee prevails, the 44 court may allow such employee in addition to ordinary costs, a reason- 45 able sum, not exceeding fifty dollars for expenses which may be taxed as 46 costs. No assignee of a wage claim, except the commissioner, shall be 47 benefited by this provision. 48 1-a. On behalf of any employee paid less than the wage to which he or 49 she is entitled under the provisions of this article, the commissioner 50 may bring any legal action necessary, including administrative action, 51 to collect such claim and as part of such legal action, in addition to 52 any other remedies and penalties otherwise available under this article, 53 the commissioner [may] SHALL assess against the employer THE FULL AMOUNT 54 OF ANY SUCH UNDERPAYMENT, AND an additional amount as liquidated damages 55 [equal to twenty-five percent of the total amount of wages found to be 56 due], unless the employer proves a good faith basis for believing that S. 8380 6 1 its underpayment of wages was in compliance with the law. LIQUIDATED 2 DAMAGES SHALL BE CALCULATED BY THE COMMISSIONER AS NO MORE THAN ONE 3 HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF WAGES FOUND TO BE DUE. In any 4 action instituted in the courts upon a wage claim by an employee or the 5 commissioner in which the employee prevails, the court shall allow such 6 employee TO RECOVER THE FULL AMOUNT OF ANY UNDERPAYMENT, ALL reasonable 7 attorney's fees, PREJUDGMENT INTEREST AS REQUIRED UNDER THE CIVIL PRAC- 8 TICE LAW AND RULES, and, unless the employer proves a good faith basis 9 to believe that its underpayment of wages was in compliance with the 10 law, an additional amount as liquidated damages equal to [twenty-five] 11 ONE HUNDRED percent of the total amount of the wages found to be due. 12 1-B. IF ANY EMPLOYEE IS NOT PROVIDED WITHIN TEN BUSINESS DAYS OF HIS 13 OR HER FIRST DAY OF EMPLOYMENT A NOTICE AS REQUIRED BY SUBDIVISION ONE 14 OF SECTION ONE HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE OF THIS ARTICLE, HE OR SHE MAY 15 RECOVER IN A CIVIL ACTION DAMAGES OF FIFTY DOLLARS FOR EACH WORK WEEK 16 THAT THE VIOLATIONS OCCURRED OR CONTINUE TO OCCUR, BUT NOT TO EXCEED A 17 TOTAL OF TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS, TOGETHER WITH COSTS AND 18 REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES. THE COURT MAY ALSO AWARD OTHER RELIEF, 19 INCLUDING INJUNCTIVE AND DECLARATORY RELIEF, THAT THE COURT IN ITS 20 DISCRETION DEEMS NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE. 21 ON BEHALF OF ANY EMPLOYEE NOT PROVIDED A NOTICE AS REQUIRED BY SUBDI- 22 VISION ONE OF SECTION ONE HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE OF THIS ARTICLE, THE 23 COMMISSIONER MAY BRING ANY LEGAL ACTION NECESSARY, INCLUDING ADMINISTRA- 24 TIVE ACTION, TO COLLECT SUCH CLAIM, AND AS PART OF SUCH LEGAL ACTION, IN 25 ADDITION TO ANY OTHER REMEDIES AND PENALTIES OTHERWISE AVAILABLE UNDER 26 THIS ARTICLE, THE COMMISSIONER MAY ASSESS AGAINST THE EMPLOYER DAMAGES 27 OF FIFTY DOLLARS FOR EACH WORK WEEK THAT THE VIOLATIONS OCCURRED OR 28 CONTINUE TO OCCUR. IN ANY ACTION OR ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING TO RECOVER 29 DAMAGES FOR VIOLATION OF PARAGRAPH (D) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION ONE 30 HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE OF THIS ARTICLE, IT SHALL BE AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 31 THAT (I) THE EMPLOYER MADE COMPLETE AND TIMELY PAYMENT OF ALL WAGES DUE 32 PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE OR ARTICLE NINETEEN OR ARTICLE NINETEEN-A OF 33 THIS CHAPTER TO THE EMPLOYEE WHO WAS NOT PROVIDED NOTICE AS REQUIRED BY 34 SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION ONE HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE OF THIS ARTICLE OR 35 (II) THE EMPLOYER REASONABLY BELIEVED IN GOOD FAITH THAT IT WAS NOT 36 REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THE EMPLOYEE WITH NOTICE PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE 37 OF SECTION ONE HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE OF THIS ARTICLE. 38 1-D. IF ANY EMPLOYEE IS NOT PROVIDED A STATEMENT OR STATEMENTS AS 39 REQUIRED BY SUBDIVISION THREE OF SECTION ONE HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE OF THIS 40 ARTICLE, HE OR SHE SHALL RECOVER IN A CIVIL ACTION DAMAGES OF ONE 41 HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR EACH WORK WEEK THAT THE VIOLATIONS OCCURRED OR 42 CONTINUE TO OCCUR, BUT NOT TO EXCEED A TOTAL OF TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED 43 DOLLARS, TOGETHER WITH COSTS AND REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES. THE COURT 44 MAY ALSO AWARD OTHER RELIEF, INCLUDING INJUNCTIVE AND DECLARATORY 45 RELIEF, THAT THE COURT IN ITS DISCRETION DEEMS NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE. 46 ON BEHALF OF ANY EMPLOYEE NOT PROVIDED A STATEMENT AS REQUIRED BY 47 SUBDIVISION THREE OF SECTION ONE HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE OF THIS ARTICLE, 48 THE COMMISSIONER MAY BRING ANY LEGAL ACTION NECESSARY, INCLUDING ADMIN- 49 ISTRATIVE ACTION, TO COLLECT SUCH CLAIM, AND AS PART OF SUCH LEGAL 50 ACTION, IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER REMEDIES AND PENALTIES OTHERWISE AVAIL- 51 ABLE UNDER THIS ARTICLE, THE COMMISSIONER MAY ASSESS AGAINST THE EMPLOY- 52 ER DAMAGES OF ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR EACH WORK WEEK THAT THE VIOLATIONS 53 OCCURRED OR CONTINUE TO OCCUR. IN ANY ACTION OR ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEED- 54 ING TO RECOVER DAMAGES FOR VIOLATION OF SUBDIVISION THREE OF SECTION ONE 55 HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE OF THIS ARTICLE, IT SHALL BE AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE 56 THAT (I) THE EMPLOYER MADE COMPLETE AND TIMELY PAYMENT OF ALL WAGES DUE S. 8380 7 1 PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE OR ARTICLES NINETEEN OR NINETEEN-A OF THIS 2 CHAPTER TO THE EMPLOYEE WHO WAS NOT PROVIDED STATEMENTS AS REQUIRED BY 3 SUBDIVISION THREE OF SECTION ONE HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE OF THIS ARTICLE OR 4 (II) THE EMPLOYER REASONABLY BELIEVED IN GOOD FAITH THAT IT WAS NOT 5 REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THE EMPLOYEE WITH STATEMENTS PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH 6 (E) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION ONE HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE OF THIS ARTI- 7 CLE. 8 2. The remedies provided by this article may be enforced simultane- 9 ously or consecutively so far as not inconsistent with each other. 10 3. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an action to recover 11 upon a liability imposed by this article must be commenced within six 12 years. THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS SHALL BE TOLLED FROM THE DATE AN 13 EMPLOYEE FILES A COMPLAINT WITH THE COMMISSIONER OR THE COMMISSIONER 14 COMMENCES AN INVESTIGATION, WHICHEVER IS EARLIER, UNTIL AN ORDER TO 15 COMPLY ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER BECOMES FINAL, OR WHERE THE COMMIS- 16 SIONER DOES NOT ISSUE AN ORDER, UNTIL THE DATE ON WHICH THE COMMISSIONER 17 NOTIFIES THE COMPLAINANT THAT THE INVESTIGATION HAS CONCLUDED. INVESTI- 18 GATION BY THE COMMISSIONER SHALL NOT BE A PREREQUISITE TO NOR A BAR 19 AGAINST A PERSON BRINGING A CIVIL ACTION UNDER THIS SECTION. All employ- 20 ees shall have the right to recover full wages, benefits and wage 21 supplements AND LIQUIDATED DAMAGES accrued during the six years previous 22 to the commencing of such action, whether such action is instituted by 23 the employee or by the commissioner. 24 4. IN ANY CIVIL ACTION BY AN EMPLOYEE OR BY THE COMMISSIONER, THE 25 EMPLOYEE OR COMMISSIONER SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO COLLECT ATTORNEY'S FEES 26 AND COSTS INCURRED IN ENFORCING ANY COURT JUDGMENT. ANY JUDGMENT OR 27 COURT ORDER AWARDING REMEDIES UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL PROVIDE THAT IF 28 ANY AMOUNTS REMAIN UNPAID UPON THE EXPIRATION OF NINETY DAYS FOLLOWING 29 ISSUANCE OF JUDGMENT, OR NINETY DAYS AFTER EXPIRATION OF THE TIME TO 30 APPEAL AND NO APPEAL IS THEN PENDING, WHICHEVER IS LATER, THE TOTAL 31 AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT SHALL AUTOMATICALLY INCREASE BY FIFTEEN PERCENT. 32 S 8. Section 198-a of the labor law, as amended by chapter 241 of the 33 laws of 2002, is amended to read as follows: 34 S 198-a. Criminal penalties. 1. Every employer who does not pay the 35 wages of all of his employees in accordance with the provisions of this 36 chapter, and the officers and agents of any corporation, PARTNERSHIP, OR 37 LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY who knowingly permit the corporation, PARTNER- 38 SHIP, OR LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY to violate this chapter by failing to 39 pay the wages of any of its employees in accordance with the provisions 40 thereof, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor for the first offense and upon 41 conviction therefor shall be fined not less than five hundred nor more 42 than twenty thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than one year, 43 and, in the event that any second or subsequent offense occurs within 44 six years of the date of conviction for a prior offense, shall be guilty 45 of a felony for the second or subsequent offense, and upon conviction 46 therefor, shall be fined not less than five hundred nor more than twenty 47 thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than one year plus one day, 48 or punished by both such fine and imprisonment, for each such offense. 49 An indictment of a person or corporation operating a steam surface rail- 50 road for an offense specified in this section may be found and tried in 51 any county within the state in which such railroad ran at the time of 52 such offense. 53 2. Every employer who violates or fails to comply with the require- 54 ments of subdivision four of section one hundred ninety-five of this 55 article, and the officers and agents of any corporation, PARTNERSHIP, OR 56 LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY who knowingly permit the corporation, PARTNER- S. 8380 8 1 SHIP, OR LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY to violate or fail to comply there- 2 with, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction therefor 3 shall be fined not less than five hundred nor more than five thousand 4 dollars or imprisoned for not more than one year. 5 3. Every employer who knowingly violates or fails to comply with the 6 requirements of subdivision four of section one hundred ninety-five of 7 this article, and the officers and agents of any corporation, PARTNER- 8 SHIP, OR LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY who knowingly permit the corporation, 9 PARTNERSHIP, OR LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY to violate or fail to comply 10 therewith, shall be guilty of a felony where such employer, officer or 11 agent has been convicted of a violation of such subdivision within the 12 previous six years, and upon conviction therefor shall be fined not less 13 than five hundred nor more than twenty thousand dollars or imprisoned 14 for not more than one year plus one day, or punished by both such fine 15 and imprisonment, for each such offense. In determining the penalty, the 16 court shall consider the severity of the violation, the size of the 17 employer, and the employer's good faith effort to comply with the 18 requirements of subdivision four of section one hundred ninety-five of 19 this article. 20 S 9. Section 199-a of the labor law, as added by chapter 605 of the 21 laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows: 22 S 199-a. Notification of process. 1. Each employee who files a 23 complaint regarding a violation of a provision of THIS article [six] 24 (payment of wages), article nineteen (minimum wage act), or article 25 nineteen-A (MINIMUM WAGE STANDARDS AND PROTECTIVE LABOR PRACTICES FOR 26 FARM WORKERS), SECTION ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE, SECTION ONE HUNDRED 27 SIXTY-TWO, section two hundred twelve-a [or], section two hundred 28 twelve-b, OR SECTION TWO HUNDRED FIFTEEN of this chapter, or a rule or 29 regulation promulgated thereunder, shall be provided with a written 30 description of the anticipated processing of the complaint, including 31 investigation, case conference, potential civil and criminal penalties, 32 and collection procedures. 33 2. Each employee and his or her AUTHORIZED representative shall be 34 notified in writing of any case conference before it is held and given 35 the opportunity to attend. 36 3. Each employee and his or her AUTHORIZED representative shall be 37 notified in writing of any award and collection of back wages and civil 38 penalties, and of any intent to seek criminal penalties. In the event 39 that criminal penalties are sought the employee and his or her AUTHOR- 40 IZED representative shall be notified of the outcome of prosecution. 41 S 10. Section 215 of the labor law, as amended by chapter 744 of the 42 laws of 1986, subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 372 of the laws of 43 2009, is amended to read as follows: 44 S 215. Penalties and civil action; [employer who penalizes employees 45 because of complaints of employer violations] PROHIBITED RETALIATION. 1. 46 (a) No employer or his or her agent, or the officer or agent of any 47 corporation, partnership, or limited liability company, OR ANY OTHER 48 PERSON, shall discharge, THREATEN, penalize, or in any other manner 49 discriminate or retaliate against any employee (i) because such employee 50 has made a complaint to his or her employer, or to the commissioner or 51 his or her authorized representative, OR TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OR ANY 52 OTHER PERSON, that the employer has [violated any provision of] ENGAGED 53 IN CONDUCT THAT THE EMPLOYEE, REASONABLY AND IN GOOD FAITH, BELIEVES 54 VIOLATES ANY PROVISION OF this chapter, or ANY ORDER ISSUED BY THE 55 COMMISSIONER (ii) BECAUSE SUCH EMPLOYER OR PERSON BELIEVES THAT SUCH 56 EMPLOYEE HAS MADE A COMPLAINT TO HIS OR HER EMPLOYER, OR TO THE COMMIS- S. 8380 9 1 SIONER OR HIS OR HER AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE, OR TO THE ATTORNEY 2 GENERAL, OR TO ANY OTHER PERSON THAT THE EMPLOYER HAS VIOLATED ANY 3 PROVISION OF THIS CHAPTER, OR ANY ORDER ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER (III) 4 because such employee has caused to be instituted OR IS ABOUT TO INSTI- 5 TUTE a proceeding under or related to this chapter, or [(iii)] (IV) 6 because such employee has provided information to the commissioner or 7 his or her authorized representative OR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, or [(iv)] 8 (V) because such employee has testified or is about to testify in an 9 investigation or proceeding under this chapter, or [(v)] (VI) because 10 such employee has otherwise exercised rights protected under this chap- 11 ter, or [(vi)] (VII) because the employer has received an adverse deter- 12 mination from the commissioner involving the employee. 13 AN EMPLOYEE COMPLAINT OR OTHER COMMUNICATION NEED NOT MAKE EXPLICIT 14 REFERENCE TO ANY SECTION OR PROVISION OF THIS CHAPTER TO TRIGGER THE 15 PROTECTIONS OF THIS SECTION. 16 (b) If after investigation the commissioner finds that an employer OR 17 PERSON has violated any provision of this section, the commissioner may, 18 by an order which shall describe particularly the nature of the 19 violation, assess the employer OR PERSON a civil penalty of not less 20 than one thousand nor more than ten thousand dollars[, and]. THE COMMIS- 21 SIONER MAY ALSO order [the employer to pay lost compensation] ALL APPRO- 22 PRIATE RELIEF INCLUDING ENJOINING THE CONDUCT OF ANY PERSON OR EMPLOYER; 23 ORDERING PAYMENT OF LIQUIDATED DAMAGES to the employee BY THE PERSON OR 24 ENTITY IN VIOLATION; AND, WHERE THE PERSON OR ENTITY IN VIOLATION IS AN 25 EMPLOYER ORDERING REHIRING OR REINSTATEMENT OF THE EMPLOYEE TO HIS OR 26 HER FORMER POSITION OR AN EQUIVALENT POSITION, AND AN AWARD OF LOST 27 COMPENSATION OR AN AWARD OF FRONT PAY IN LIEU OF REINSTATEMENT AND AN 28 AWARD OF LOST COMPENSATION. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES SHALL BE CALCULATED AS 29 AN AMOUNT NOT MORE THAN TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE COMMISSIONER MAY 30 ASSESS LIQUIDATED DAMAGES ON BEHALF OF EVERY EMPLOYEE AGGRIEVED UNDER 31 THIS SECTION, IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER REMEDIES PERMITTED BY THIS 32 SECTION. 33 (c) [Notwithstanding the provisions of section two hundred thirteen of 34 this article, the penalties set forth in this section shall be the 35 exclusive remedies available for violations of this section. 36 (d)] This section shall not apply to employees of the state or any 37 municipal subdivisions or departments thereof. 38 2. (A) An employee may bring a civil action in a court of competent 39 jurisdiction against any employer or persons alleged to have violated 40 the provisions of this section. The court shall have jurisdiction to 41 restrain violations of this section, within two years after such 42 violation, REGARDLESS OF THE DATES OF EMPLOYMENT OF THE EMPLOYEE, and to 43 order all appropriate relief, including ENJOINING THE CONDUCT OF ANY 44 PERSON OR EMPLOYER; ORDERING PAYMENT OF LIQUIDATED DAMAGES, COSTS AND 45 REASONABLE ATTORNEYS' FEES TO THE EMPLOYEE BY THE PERSON OR ENTITY IN 46 VIOLATION; AND, WHERE THE PERSON OR ENTITY IN VIOLATION IS AN EMPLOYER, 47 ORDERING rehiring or reinstatement of the employee to his OR HER former 48 position with restoration of seniority OR AN AWARD OF FRONT PAY IN LIEU 49 OF REINSTATEMENT, [payment] AND AN AWARD of lost compensation[,] AND 50 damages, COSTS and reasonable attorneys' fees. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES SHALL 51 BE CALCULATED AS AN AMOUNT NOT MORE THAN TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE 52 COURT SHALL AWARD LIQUIDATED DAMAGES TO EVERY EMPLOYEE AGGRIEVED UNDER 53 THIS SECTION, IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER REMEDIES PERMITTED BY THIS 54 SECTION. THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS SHALL BE TOLLED FROM THE DATE AN 55 EMPLOYEE FILES A COMPLAINT WITH THE COMMISSIONER OR THE COMMISSIONER 56 COMMENCES AN INVESTIGATION, WHICHEVER IS EARLIER, UNTIL AN ORDER TO S. 8380 10 1 COMPLY ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER BECOMES FINAL, OR WHERE THE COMMIS- 2 SIONER DOES NOT ISSUE AN ORDER, UNTIL THE DATE ON WHICH THE COMMISSIONER 3 NOTIFIES THE COMPLAINANT THAT THE INVESTIGATION HAS CONCLUDED. INVESTI- 4 GATION BY THE COMMISSIONER SHALL NOT BE A PREREQUISITE TO NOR A BAR 5 AGAINST A PERSON BRINGING A CIVIL ACTION UNDER THIS SECTION. 6 (B) At or before the commencement of any action under this section, 7 notice thereof shall be served upon the attorney general by the employ- 8 ee. 9 3. ANY EMPLOYER OR HIS OR HER AGENT, OR THE OFFICER OR AGENT OF ANY 10 CORPORATION, PARTNERSHIP, OR LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, OR ANY OTHER 11 PERSON WHO VIOLATES SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE GUILTY OF A 12 CLASS B MISDEMEANOR. 13 S 11. Subdivisions 1 and 3 of section 218 of the labor law, subdivi- 14 sion 1 as amended by chapter 190 of the laws of 1990, the opening para- 15 graph of subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 304 of the laws of 2007 and 16 subdivision 3 as added by chapter 697 of the laws of 1980, are amended 17 to read as follows: 18 1. If the commissioner determines that an employer has violated a 19 provision of article six (payment of wages), article nineteen (minimum 20 wage act), article nineteen-A (MINIMUM WAGE STANDARDS AND PROTECTIVE 21 LABOR PRACTICES FOR FARM WORKERS), section two hundred twelve-a, section 22 two hundred twelve-b, section one hundred sixty-one (day of rest) or 23 section one hundred sixty-two (meal periods) of this chapter, or a rule 24 or regulation promulgated thereunder, the commissioner shall issue to 25 the employer an order directing compliance therewith, which shall 26 describe particularly the nature of the alleged violation. A COPY OF 27 SUCH ORDER SHALL BE PROVIDED TO ANY EMPLOYEE WHO HAS FILED A COMPLAINT 28 AND ANY AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF HIM OR HER. In addition to direct- 29 ing payment of wages, benefits or wage supplements found to be due, AND 30 LIQUIDATED DAMAGES IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF UNPAID WAGES, 31 such order, if issued to an employer who previously has been found in 32 violation of those provisions, rules or regulations, or to an employer 33 whose violation is willful or egregious, shall direct payment to the 34 commissioner of an additional sum as a civil penalty in an amount [equal 35 to] NOT TO EXCEED double the total amount OF WAGES, BENEFITS, OR WAGE 36 SUPPLEMENTS found to be due. In no case shall the order direct payment 37 of an amount less than the total wages, benefits or wage supplements 38 found by the commissioner to be due, plus the LIQUIDATED DAMAGES IN THE 39 AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF UNPAID WAGES, THE appropriate civil 40 penalty, AND INTEREST AT THE RATE OF INTEREST THEN IN EFFECT, AS 41 PRESCRIBED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF BANKS PURSUANT TO SECTION FOURTEEN-A 42 OF THE BANKING LAW PER ANNUM FROM THE DATE OF THE UNDERPAYMENT TO THE 43 DATE OF THE PAYMENT. Where the violation is for a reason other than the 44 employer's failure to pay wages, benefits or wage supplements found to 45 be due, the order shall direct payment to the commissioner of a civil 46 penalty in an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars for a first 47 violation, two thousand dollars for a second violation or three thousand 48 dollars for a third or subsequent violation. In assessing the amount of 49 the penalty, the commissioner shall give due consideration to the size 50 of the employer's business, the good faith BASIS of the employer TO 51 BELIEVE THAT ITS CONDUCT WAS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW, the gravity of 52 the violation, the history of previous violations and, in the case of 53 wages, benefits or supplements violations, the failure to comply with 54 recordkeeping or other non-wage requirements. 55 Where there is a violation of section one hundred ninety-eight-b of 56 this chapter, the order shall direct payment back to the employee of the S. 8380 11 1 amount of wages, supplements or other thing of value unlawfully received 2 plus LIQUIDATED DAMAGES IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF UNPAID 3 WAGES, AND interest at the rate of interest then in effect, as 4 prescribed by the superintendent of banks pursuant to section fourteen-a 5 of the banking law per annum from the date of the payback, return, 6 donation or contribution to the date of payment, and shall include such 7 other relief as may be appropriate, including rehiring or reinstatement 8 of the employee to his or her former position, back wages, and restora- 9 tion of seniority. In addition, the commissioner shall order payment of 10 a civil penalty of at least twenty-five hundred dollars but not more 11 than five thousand dollars per violation. In assessing the amount of the 12 penalty, the commissioner shall give due consideration to the size of 13 the employer's business, the good faith BASIS of the employer TO BELIEVE 14 THAT ITS CONDUCT WAS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW, the gravity of the 15 violation, the history of previous violations. 16 AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COMMISSIONER, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL HAVE 17 FULL AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE FOR INCLUSION OF AN AUTOMATIC FIFTEEN PERCENT 18 ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF DAMAGES TO COME DUE AND OWING UPON EXPIRATION OF 19 NINETY DAYS FROM AN ORDER TO COMPLY BECOMING FINAL. THE COMMISSIONER 20 SHALL PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE EMPLOYER IN THE ORDER TO COMPLY OF 21 THIS ADDITIONAL DAMAGE. 22 3. Provided that no proceeding for administrative or judicial review 23 as provided in this chapter shall then be pending and the time for 24 initiation of such proceeding shall have expired, the commissioner may 25 file with the county clerk of the county where the employer resides or 26 has a place of business the order of the commissioner, or the decision 27 of the industrial board of appeals containing the amount found to be due 28 including the civil penalty, if any, AND AT THE COMMISSIONER'S 29 DISCRETION, AN ADDITIONAL FIFTEEN PERCENT DAMAGES UPON ANY OUTSTANDING 30 MONIES OWED. AT THE REQUEST OF AN EMPLOYEE, AND AT THE DISCRETION OF THE 31 COMMISSIONER, THE COMMISSIONER MAY ASSIGN THAT PORTION OF THE MONEY DUE 32 THAT CONSTITUTES WAGES, WAGE SUPPLEMENTS, INTEREST ON WAGES OR WAGE 33 SUPPLEMENTS, OR LIQUIDATED DAMAGES DUE THAT EMPLOYEE, TO THAT EMPLOYEE 34 AND FILE AN ORDER IN THAT AMOUNT IN THE NAME OF THAT EMPLOYEE WITH THE 35 COUNTY CLERK OF THE COUNTY WHERE THE EMPLOYER RESIDES OR HAS A PLACE OF 36 BUSINESS. The filing of such order or decision shall have the full 37 force and effect of a judgment duly docketed in the office of such 38 clerk. The order or decision may be enforced by and in the name of the 39 commissioner in the same manner, and with like effect, as that 40 prescribed by the civil practice law and rules for the enforcement of a 41 money judgment. 42 S 12. Section 219 of the labor law, as added by chapter 697 of the 43 laws of 1980 and subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 417 of the laws of 44 1987, is amended to read as follows: 45 S 219. Violations of certain wage payment provisions; interest, filing 46 of order as judgment. 1. If the commissioner determines that an employ- 47 er has failed to pay wages, benefits or wage supplements required pursu- 48 ant to article six (payment of wages), article nineteen (minimum wage 49 act) or article [nineteen-a] NINETEEN-A (MINIMUM WAGE STANDARDS AND 50 PROTECTIVE LABOR PRACTICES FOR FARM WORKERS) of this chapter, or a rule 51 or regulation promulgated thereunder, the commissioner shall issue to 52 the employer an order directing compliance therewith, which shall 53 describe particularly the nature of the alleged violation. A COPY OF 54 SUCH ORDER SHALL BE PROVIDED TO ANY EMPLOYEE WHO HAS FILED A COMPLAINT 55 AND TO HIS OR HER AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE. Such order shall direct 56 payment of wages or supplements found to be due, [including] LIQUIDATED S. 8380 12 1 DAMAGES IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF UNPAID WAGES, AND inter- 2 est at the rate of interest then in effect as prescribed by the super- 3 intendent of banks pursuant to section fourteen-a of the banking law per 4 annum from the date of the underpayment to the date of the payment. 5 AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COMMISSIONER, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL HAVE 6 FULL AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE FOR INCLUSION OF AN AUTOMATIC FIFTEEN PERCENT 7 ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF DAMAGES TO COME DUE AND OWING UPON EXPIRATION OF 8 NINETY DAYS FROM AN ORDER TO COMPLY BECOMING FINAL. THE COMMISSIONER 9 SHALL PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE EMPLOYER IN THE ORDER TO COMPLY OF 10 THIS ADDITIONAL DAMAGE. 11 2. An order issued under subdivision one of this section shall be 12 final and not subject to review by any court or agency unless review is 13 had pursuant to section one hundred one of this chapter. 14 3. Provided that no proceeding for administrative or judicial review 15 as provided in this chapter shall then be pending and the time for 16 initiation of such proceeding shall have expired, the commissioner may 17 file with the county clerk of the county where the employer resides or 18 has a place of business the order of the commissioner or the decision of 19 the industrial board of appeals containing the amount found to be due, 20 INCLUDING, AT THE COMMISSIONER'S DISCRETION, AN ADDITIONAL FIFTEEN 21 PERCENT DAMAGES UPON ANY OUTSTANDING MONIES OWED. AT THE REQUEST OF AN 22 EMPLOYEE, AND AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COMMISSIONER, THE COMMISSIONER 23 MAY ASSIGN THAT PORTION OF THE MONEY DUE THAT CONSTITUTES WAGES, WAGE 24 SUPPLEMENTS, INTEREST ON WAGES OR WAGE SUPPLEMENTS, OR LIQUIDATED 25 DAMAGES DUE THE EMPLOYEE, TO THAT EMPLOYEE AND FILE AN ORDER IN THAT 26 AMOUNT IN THE NAME OF SUCH EMPLOYEE WITH THE COUNTY CLERK OF THE COUNTY 27 WHERE THE EMPLOYER RESIDES OR HAS A PLACE OF BUSINESS. The filing of 28 such order or decision shall have the full force and effect of a judg- 29 ment duly docketed in the office of such clerk. The order or decision 30 may be enforced by and in the name of the commissioner in the same 31 manner, and with like effect, as that prescribed by the civil practice 32 law and rules for the enforcement of a money judgment. 33 S 13. The labor law is amended by adding a new section 219-c to read 34 as follows: 35 S 219-C. PUBLIC NOTICE OF EMPLOYER VIOLATIONS. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL 36 HAVE THE FOLLOWING POWERS: 37 1. WHERE AN EMPLOYER IS FOUND IN VIOLATION OF ARTICLE SIX, NINETEEN OR 38 NINETEEN-A OF THIS CHAPTER, TO POST AND/OR AFFIX FOR A PERIOD NOT TO 39 EXCEED ONE YEAR A NOTICE OF NO LESS THAN EIGHT AND ONE-HALF BY ELEVEN 40 INCHES IN AN AREA VISIBLE TO EMPLOYEES SUMMARIZING THE VIOLATIONS FOUND 41 AND OTHER INFORMATION DEEMED PERTINENT BY THE COMMISSIONER, ACCORDING TO 42 SUCH FORM AND MANNER ORDERED BY THE COMMISSIONER; AND 43 2. WHERE THE VIOLATION IS FOR A WILLFUL FAILURE TO PAY ALL WAGES AS 44 REQUIRED BY ARTICLE SIX, NINETEEN, OR NINETEEN-A OF THIS CHAPTER, TO 45 POST AND/OR AFFIX FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED NINETY DAYS IN AN AREA 46 VISIBLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AS ORDERED BY THE COMMISSIONER, A NOTICE 47 OF NO LESS THAN EIGHT AND ONE-HALF BY ELEVEN INCHES AS TO THE VIOLATIONS 48 FOUND, ACCORDING TO SUCH FORM AND MANNER ORDERED BY THE COMMISSIONER. 49 ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE COMMISSIONER OR THE COMMISSIONER'S DULY 50 AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE WHO REMOVES, ALTERS, DEFACES OR OTHERWISE 51 INTERFERES WITH A NOTICE POSTED AND/OR AFFIXED UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL 52 BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR. 53 S 14. Section 661 of the labor law, as added by chapter 619 of the 54 laws of 1960, is amended to read as follows: 55 S 661. Records of employers. [Every] FOR ALL EMPLOYEES COVERED BY 56 THIS ARTICLE, EVERY employer shall [keep] ESTABLISH, MAINTAIN, AND S. 8380 13 1 PRESERVE FOR NOT LESS THAN SIX YEARS CONTEMPORANEOUS, true, and accurate 2 PAYROLL records [of] SHOWING FOR EACH WEEK WORKED THE hours worked [by 3 each employee covered by an hourly minimum wage rate], the [wages paid 4 to all employees, and] RATE OR RATES OF PAY AND BASIS THEREOF, WHETHER 5 PAID BY THE HOUR, SHIFT, DAY, WEEK, SALARY, PIECE, COMMISSION, OR OTHER 6 BASIS; GROSS WAGES; DEDUCTIONS; ALLOWANCES, IF ANY, CLAIMED AS PART OF 7 THE MINIMUM WAGE; AND NET WAGES FOR EACH EMPLOYEE, PLUS such other 8 information as the commissioner deems material and necessary[, and 9 shall, on]. FOR ALL EMPLOYEES WHO ARE NOT EXEMPT FROM OVERTIME COMPEN- 10 SATION AS ESTABLISHED IN THE COMMISSIONER'S MINIMUM WAGE ORDERS OR 11 OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY NEW YORK STATE LAW OR REGULATION, THE PAYROLL 12 RECORDS MUST INCLUDE THE REGULAR HOURLY RATE OR RATES OF PAY, THE OVER- 13 TIME RATE OR RATES OF PAY, THE NUMBER OF REGULAR HOURS WORKED, AND THE 14 NUMBER OF OVERTIME HOURS WORKED. FOR ALL EMPLOYEES PAID A PIECE RATE, 15 THE PAYROLL RECORDS SHALL INCLUDE THE APPLICABLE PIECE RATE OR RATES OF 16 PAY AND NUMBER OF PIECES COMPLETED AT EACH PIECE RATE. ON demand, THE 17 EMPLOYER SHALL furnish to the commissioner or his duly authorized repre- 18 sentative a sworn statement of the [same] HOURS WORKED, RATE OR RATES OF 19 PAY AND BASIS THEREOF, WHETHER PAID BY THE HOUR, SHIFT, DAY, WEEK, SALA- 20 RY, PIECE, COMMISSION, OR OTHER BASIS; GROSS WAGES; DEDUCTIONS; AND 21 ALLOWANCES, IF ANY, CLAIMED AS PART OF THE MINIMUM WAGE, FOR EACH 22 EMPLOYEE, PLUS SUCH OTHER INFORMATION AS THE COMMISSIONER DEEMS MATERIAL 23 AND NECESSARY. Every employer shall keep such records open to inspection 24 by the commissioner or his duly authorized representative at any reason- 25 able time. Every employer of an employee shall keep a digest and summary 26 of this article or applicable wage order, which shall be prepared by the 27 commissioner, posted in a conspicuous place in his establishment and 28 shall also keep posted such additional copies of said digest and summary 29 as the commissioner prescribes. Employers shall, on request, be 30 furnished with copies of this article and of orders, and of digests and 31 summaries thereof, without charge. Employers shall permit the commis- 32 sioner or his duly authorized representative to question WITHOUT INTER- 33 FERENCE any employee of such employer in A PRIVATE LOCATION AT the place 34 of employment and during working hours in respect to the wages paid to 35 and the hours worked by such employee or other employees. 36 S 15. Section 662 of the labor law, as amended by chapter 587 of the 37 laws of 1983 and subdivision 4 as added by chapter 776 of the laws of 38 1983, is amended to read as follows: 39 S 662. Penalties. 1. [Discrimination against employee. Any employer 40 or his agent, or the officer or agent of any corporation, who discharges 41 or in any other manner discriminates against any employee because such 42 employee has made a complaint to his employer, or to the commissioner or 43 his authorized representative, that he has not been paid in accordance 44 with the provisions of this article, or because such employee has caused 45 to be instituted a proceeding under or related to this article, or 46 because such employee has testified or is about to testify in an inves- 47 tigation or proceeding under this article, shall be guilty of a class B 48 misdemeanor. 49 2. Payment of less than minimum wage] FAILURE TO PAY MINIMUM WAGE OR 50 OVERTIME COMPENSATION. Any employer or his OR HER agent, or the officer 51 or agent of any corporation, PARTNERSHIP, OR LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, 52 who pays or agrees to pay to any employee less than the wage applicable 53 under this article shall be guilty of a [class B] misdemeanor and [each] 54 UPON CONVICTION THEREFOR SHALL BE FINED NOT LESS THAN FIVE HUNDRED NOR 55 MORE THAN TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS OR IMPRISONED FOR NOT MORE THAN ONE 56 YEAR, AND, IN THE EVENT THAT ANY SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE OCCURS S. 8380 14 1 WITHIN SIX YEARS OF THE DATE OF CONVICTION FOR A PRIOR OFFENSE, SHALL BE 2 GUILTY OF A FELONY FOR THE SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE, AND UPON 3 CONVICTION THEREFOR, SHALL BE FINED NOT LESS THAN FIVE HUNDRED NOR MORE 4 THAN TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS OR IMPRISONED FOR NOT MORE THAN ONE YEAR 5 PLUS ONE DAY, OR PUNISHED BY BOTH SUCH FINE AND IMPRISONMENT, FOR EACH 6 SUCH OFFENSE. EACH payment to any employee in any week of less than the 7 wage applicable under this article shall constitute a separate offense. 8 [3.] 2. Failure to keep records. Any employer or his OR HER agent, or 9 the officer or agent of any corporation, PARTNERSHIP, OR LIMITED LIABIL- 10 ITY COMPANY, who fails to keep the records required under this article 11 or to furnish such records or any information required to be furnished 12 under this article to the commissioner or his OR HER authorized repre- 13 sentative upon request, or who hinders or delays the commissioner or his 14 OR HER authorized representative in the performance of his OR HER duties 15 in the enforcement of this article, or refuses to admit the commissioner 16 or his OR HER authorized representative to any place of employment, or 17 falsifies any such records or refuses to make such records accessible to 18 the commissioner or his OR HER authorized representative, or refuses to 19 furnish a sworn statement of such records or any other information 20 required for the proper enforcement of this article to the commissioner 21 or his OR HER authorized representative, shall be guilty of a [class B] 22 misdemeanor and [each] UPON CONVICTION THEREFOR SHALL BE FINED NOT LESS 23 THAN FIVE HUNDRED NOR MORE THAN FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS OR IMPRISONED FOR 24 NOT MORE THAN ONE YEAR, AND, IN THE EVENT THAT ANY SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT 25 OFFENSE OCCURS WITHIN SIX YEARS OF THE DATE OF CONVICTION FOR A PRIOR 26 OFFENSE, SHALL BE GUILTY OF A FELONY FOR THE SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT 27 OFFENSE, AND UPON CONVICTION THEREFOR, SHALL BE FINED NOT LESS THAN FIVE 28 HUNDRED NOR MORE THAN TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS OR IMPRISONED FOR NOT MORE 29 THAN ONE YEAR PLUS ONE DAY, OR PUNISHED BY BOTH SUCH FINE AND IMPRISON- 30 MENT, FOR EACH SUCH OFFENSE. EACH day's failure to keep the records 31 requested under this article or to furnish such records or information 32 to the commissioner or his OR HER authorized representative shall 33 constitute a separate offense. 34 [4. Where any person has previously been convicted of a violation of 35 this section within the preceding five years, upon conviction for a 36 second or subsequent violation such person may be fined up to ten thou- 37 sand dollars in addition to any other penalties including fines other- 38 wise provided by law; provided, however, that the total additional fine 39 that may be imposed pursuant to this subdivision for separate offenses 40 committed in any consecutive twelve month period may not exceed ten 41 thousand dollars.] 42 S 16. Section 663 of the labor law, as added by chapter 619 of the 43 laws of 1960, subdivisions 1 and 2 as amended by chapter 372 of the laws 44 of 2009 and subdivision 3 as added by chapter 497 of the laws of 1966, 45 is amended to read as follows: 46 S 663. Civil action. 1. By employee. If any employee is paid by his or 47 her employer less than the wage to which he or she is entitled under the 48 provisions of this article, he or she [may] SHALL recover in a civil 49 action the amount of any such underpayments, together with costs [and 50 such] ALL reasonable attorney's fees [as may be allowed by the court], 51 PREJUDGMENT INTEREST AS REQUIRED UNDER THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES, 52 and unless the employer proves a good faith basis to believe that its 53 underpayment of wages was in compliance with the law, an additional 54 amount as liquidated damages equal to [twenty-five] ONE HUNDRED percent 55 of the total of such underpayments found to be due [the employee and S. 8380 15 1 any]. ANY agreement between the employee, and the employer to work for 2 less than such wage shall be no defense to such action. 3 2. By commissioner. On behalf of any employee paid less than the wage 4 to which the employee is entitled under the provisions of this article, 5 the commissioner may bring any legal action necessary, including admin- 6 istrative action, to collect such claim, and the employer shall be 7 required to pay the FULL AMOUNT OF THE UNDERPAYMENT, PLUS costs, and 8 unless the employer proves a good faith basis to believe that its under- 9 payment was in compliance with the law, an additional amount as liqui- 10 dated damages [equal to twenty-five percent of the total of such under- 11 payments found to be due the employee]. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES SHALL BE 12 CALCULATED BY THE COMMISSIONER AS NO MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF 13 THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF UNDERPAYMENTS FOUND TO BE DUE THE EMPLOYEE. IN ANY 14 ACTION BROUGHT BY THE COMMISSIONER IN A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION, 15 LIQUIDATED DAMAGES SHALL BE CALCULATED AS AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO ONE HUNDRED 16 PERCENT OF UNDERPAYMENTS FOUND TO BE DUE THE EMPLOYEE. 17 3. Limitation of time. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an 18 action to recover upon a liability imposed by this article must be 19 commenced within six years. THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS SHALL BE TOLLED 20 FROM THE DATE AN EMPLOYEE FILES A COMPLAINT WITH THE COMMISSIONER OR THE 21 COMMISSIONER COMMENCES AN INVESTIGATION, WHICHEVER IS EARLIER, UNTIL AN 22 ORDER TO COMPLY ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER BECOMES FINAL, OR WHERE THE 23 COMMISSIONER DOES NOT ISSUE AN ORDER, UNTIL THE DATE ON WHICH THE 24 COMMISSIONER NOTIFIES THE COMPLAINANT THAT THE INVESTIGATION HAS 25 CONCLUDED. INVESTIGATION BY THE COMMISSIONER SHALL NOT BE A PREREQUISITE 26 TO NOR A BAR AGAINST A PERSON BRINGING A CIVIL ACTION UNDER THIS ARTI- 27 CLE. 28 4. ATTORNEYS' FEES. IN ANY CIVIL ACTION BY AN EMPLOYEE OR BY THE 29 COMMISSIONER, THE EMPLOYEE OR COMMISSIONER SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO 30 COLLECT ATTORNEYS' FEES AND COSTS INCURRED IN ENFORCING ANY COURT JUDG- 31 MENT. ANY JUDGMENT OR COURT ORDER AWARDING REMEDIES UNDER THIS SECTION 32 SHALL PROVIDE THAT IF ANY AMOUNTS REMAIN UNPAID UPON THE EXPIRATION OF 33 NINETY DAYS FOLLOWING ISSUANCE OF JUDGMENT, OR NINETY DAYS AFTER EXPIRA- 34 TION OF THE TIME TO APPEAL AND NO APPEAL THEREFROM IS THEN PENDING, 35 WHICHEVER IS LATER, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT SHALL AUTOMATICALLY 36 INCREASE BY FIFTEEN PERCENT. 37 S 17. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day 38 after it shall have become a law.