MA H1916

Creates a "Private Attorney General Action" (Section 150D) allowing non-profit employee advocacy organizations, labor unions, or affected employees to sue employers for wage theft on behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Prevailing plaintiffs receive treble (3x) damages for unpaid wages, plus litigation costs and reasonable attorney fees; affected employees must respond within 90 calendar days of court-approved notice to claim recovery

Establishes a wage enforcement fund through a 20% surcharge tax on court awards, which the Attorney General can use to advance payments to employees with urgent housing, heat, or food needs

Imposes $50 penalty per violation per pay period for each affected employee who does not respond to the lawsuit, with single damages paid into the wage enforcement fund as restitution

Representative claims on behalf of the Commonwealth cannot be waived or compelled to arbitration, and the Attorney General may intervene as plaintiff at any time while requiring the original party's consent for any settlement