Summary of HB 5245

• Allows whistleblowers and representative organizations to bring public enforcement actions on behalf of Connecticut to enforce labor and employment protections under chapters 557 and 558 of the general statutes and sections 46a-60 and 46a-81c.

• Establishes a default civil penalty of $500 per aggrieved party per violation for every two-week period when no penalty is otherwise specified, with court authority to reduce penalties if they would be arbitrary or oppressive.

• Distributes civil penalties as follows: when state has not intervened, 30% to relator, 20% to Attorney General, and 50% to enforcing state office; when state intervenes, 20% to relator, 30% to Attorney General, and 50% to enforcing state office.

• Prohibits retaliation against relators and creates rebuttable presumption that adverse actions within 90 days of filing are retaliatory, with aggrieved persons able to recover compensatory, liquidated, and punitive damages.

• Creates community outreach and workplace account funded by 25% of certain civil penalties to support labor and nonprofit organizations providing outreach, education, and technical assistance on employee rights, with priority given to services for vulnerable workers.