Senate Bill 324 Summary

• Modernizes Department of Labor inspection procedures under Title 19 Chapter 1, including allowing ex parte warrant applications for workplace inspections and clarifying the Department's authority to question employees and inspect records.

• Increases civil penalties for wage and hour violations, prevailing wage violations, and retaliation: raises minimum penalty from $1,000 to $2,000 and maximum from $5,000 to $20,000 for general violations; establishes $20,000-$50,000 penalties for retaliation.

• Creates new wage theft statute (§ 1102A) addressing six forms of wage theft including unreported employment, failure to withhold/forward taxes, below-minimum wage payments, worker misclassification, and conspiracy to violate wage laws.

• Establishes administrative enforcement procedures requiring the Department to provide notice of penalties, allow 10-day request for hearing before the Director or Secretary, and permit Superior Court appeals within 30 days with limited review based on substantial evidence.

• Closes retaliation loophole by protecting "individuals" rather than only current "employees," covering those terminated in retaliation for complaints, investigations, or testimony related to wage and hour violations.