HB 288 Summary

• Requires employers to provide 2 hours of paid time off to employees scheduled to work at least 7.5 hours on election days to vote in person, paid at regular wage rate or state minimum wage if higher.

• Employees must notify employers at least 2 working days before an election to request paid voting time; employers may specify when during the workday employees take this time but cannot designate lunch breaks.

• Exempts federal employees, volunteers at charitable/religious/nonprofit organizations, and employees covered by collective bargaining agreements that expressly waive paid voting time.

• Prohibits employer retaliation against employees for exercising voting time rights, with civil penalties of $500-$1,000 for violations and $1,000-$5,000 for retaliation.

• Establishes Department of Labor enforcement through complaint investigation and allows employees to file civil lawsuits for equitable relief, damages, and recovery of attorney's fees after exhausting administrative remedies.