Date: 05/01/2014

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB14-005

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer Senate Bill 14-005 to the Committee on ApproPASS



11:40 AM -- SB14-005

Representative Singer came to the table to continue presenting Senate Bill 14-005, which was laid over from April 30, 2014.


11:40 AM

Patrick Teegarden, Legislative and Policy Director for the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), came to the table to discuss the statutory authority of CDLE in imposing fines upon employers that do not pay wages. Committee discussion ensued. Mr. Teegarden responded to a question on whether the CDLE was in favor of the bill. He stated that it is neutral on the bill, but has been involved in negotiations during the development of the bill. He responded to questions on why the department is not in support of the bill and did not make it a part of its legislative agenda. Committee discussion of CDLE's legislative agenda and how wage theft fits into its agenda ensued.


11:54 AM

The committee further discussed the existing statutory authority of the CDLE in imposing fines upon employers that do not pay wages. Mr. Teegarden responded to questions on the commonality of employers who close their doors and re-open under a different name to avoid paying wages to employees, whether the bill will result in increased identification of wage payment violations, if wage theft is already against the law in Colorado, the additional resources that the bill would provide CDLE, and alternative legislation that could be pursued in lieu of SB14-005. Committee discussion ensued.


12:04 PM

Mr. Teegarden responded to questions on the number and type of wage theft claims in Colorado, how CDLE processes for handling wage theft claims will be altered by the bill, and how the expediency of CDLE administrative procedures for a wage theft claim compares to small claims court procedure.


12:11 PM

Representative Singer spoke to questions from the committee on the changes to statute made by the bill, whether the bill could have a negative impact on small businesses, and the options for remedy for an individual whose employer has not paid their wages.


12:24 PM

The committee went into a brief recess.


12:27 PM

Representative Singer made his closing comments on the bill and the committee discussed its merits.
BILL:SB14-005
TIME: 12:30:32 PM
MOVED:Court
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 14-005 to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 7-6.
SECONDED:Melton
VOTE
Becker
Yes
DelGrosso
No
Foote
Yes
Joshi
No
Kagan
Yes
Melton
Yes
Pabon
Yes
Priola
No
Saine
No
Swalm
No
Wilson
No
Labuda
Yes
Court
Yes
YES: 7 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS