US HB3042 | 2009-2010 | 111th Congress

Status

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 63-1)
Status: Introduced on June 25 2009 - 25% progression, died in chamber
Action: 2009-06-25 - Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Summary

Forewarn Act - Amends the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (the Act) to: (1) redefine the terms "employer," "plant closing," and "mass layoff" for purposes of the Act; and (2) among other things, apply it to employers of 75 or more employees (currently, 100 employees), including any parent company of which the business enterprise is a subsidiary. Requires an employer to: (1) give 90-day written notice (currently, 60-day) to employees and appropriate state and local governments before ordering a plant closing or mass layoff; (2) notify the Secretary of Labor and the governor of the state in which the closing or layoff will occur; and (3) provide affected employees with information regarding benefits and services available to them, including unemployment compensation, trade adjustment assistance, COBRA benefits, onsite access to rapid response teams, and certain other services. Exempts from such notice requirements plant closings or mass layoffs which are due directly to a terrorist attack. Requires the Secretary to notify the appropriate U.S. Senators and Members of the House of Representatives who represent the area where such closing or mass layoff is to occur. Makes an employer who violates such notice requirements liable to the employee for, among other things, two days pay (currently, back pay for each day of violation) multiplied by the number of calendar days for which the employer was required but failed to provide notice, including interest on such pay. Authorizes an affected employee to file a complaint with the Secretary alleging a violation of the notice requirements. Requires the Secretary to investigate and attempt to resolve such complaints. Authorizes the Secretary to bring an action in court to recover on behalf of an affected employee any backpay (including interest), benefits, and liquidated damages due. Requires an employer to post conspicuously upon its premises pertinent provisions of this Act and information on the filing of a complaint. Requires the Secretary to maintain a guide on the benefits and services available to affected employees. Prohibits the waiver of rights and remedies provided under this Act (including the right to maintain a civil action) by any agreement or settlement negotiated on behalf of affected employees.

Tracking Information

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Title

Forewarn Act

Sponsors

Rep. Michael Arcuri [D-NY]Rep. Joe Baca [D-CA]Rep. Timothy Bishop [D-NY]Rep. John Boccieri [D-OH]
Rep. Robert Brady [D-PA]Rep. Lois Capps [D-CA]Rep. Andre Carson [D-IN]Rep. Donna Christensen [D-VI]
Rep. Steve Cohen [D-TN]Rep. Gerald Connolly [D-VA]Rep. Joe Courtney [D-CT]Rep. Peter DeFazio [D-OR]
Rep. Rosa DeLauro [D-CT]Rep. John Dingell [D-MI]Rep. Sam Farr [D-CA]Rep. Chaka Fattah [D-PA]
Rep. Bob Filner [D-CA]Rep. Barney Frank [D-MA]Rep. Marcia Fudge [D-OH]Rep. Raul Grijalva [D-AZ]
Rep. Luis Gutierrez [D-IL]Rep. Phil Hare [D-IL]Rep. Alcee Hastings [D-FL]Rep. Brian Higgins [D-NY]
Rep. Maurice Hinchey [D-NY]Rep. Rush Holt [D-NJ]Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee [D-TX]Rep. Marcy Kaptur [D-OH]
Rep. Dale Kildee [D-MI]Rep. Mary Kilroy [D-OH]Rep. Dennis Kucinich [D-OH]Rep. Barbara Lee [D-CA]
Rep. Sander Levin [D-MI]Rep. John Lewis [D-GA]Rep. Carolyn Maloney [D-NY]Rep. Eric Massa [D-NY]
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy [D-NY]Rep. Jim McDermott [D-WA]Rep. James McGovern [D-MA]Rep. John McHugh [R-NY]
Rep. Michael Michaud [D-ME]Rep. George Miller [D-CA]Rep. Gwen Moore [D-WI]Rep. Jerrold Nadler [D-NY]
Rep. Eleanor Norton [D-DC]Rep. Donald Payne [D-NJ]Sen. Gary Peters [D-MI]Rep. Chellie Pingree [D-ME]
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard [D-CA]Rep. Tim Ryan [D-OH]Rep. Linda Sanchez [D-CA]Rep. Janice Schakowsky [D-IL]
Rep. Mark Schauer [D-MI]Rep. Jose Serrano [D-NY]Rep. Carol Shea-Porter [D-NH]Rep. Louise Slaughter [D-NY]
Rep. Betty Sutton [D-OH]Rep. John Tierney [D-MA]Rep. Paul Tonko [D-NY]Rep. Paul Tonko [D-NY]
Rep. Peter Visclosky [D-IN]Rep. Henry Waxman [D-CA]Rep. Charles Wilson [D-OH]Rep. Lynn Woolsey [D-CA]

History

DateChamberAction
2009-06-25 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Same As/Similar To

SB1374 (Related) 2009-06-25 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Subjects


US Congress State Sources


Bill Comments

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