HF 4378 Summary

• Appropriates $36.716 million in fiscal year 2019 funding: $32.683 million to Department of Employment and Economic Development (including $30 million for broadband development), $4 million to Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, and $33,000 to Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals.

• Increases occupational safety and health penalties effective July 1, 2018, raising maximum fines for willful violations from $70,000 to $126,750 and implementing annual inflation adjustments capped at federal penalty levels.

• Extends Department of Commerce utility grid assessment authority through June 30, 2019 at $500,000 per fiscal year for regional and national duties.

• Modifies manufactured home park relocation provisions by increasing notice period from 9 to 12 months, extending relocation deadline from 60 to 90 days, increasing relocation distance from 25 to 50 miles, and raising maximum relocation fund thresholds from $1 million to $3 million.

• Establishes comprehensive wage theft provisions including penalties of $10,000 for record-keeping failures, requiring employers to provide written notice of pay conditions, reducing pay frequency from 31 to 16 days, and adding retaliation protections for employees asserting wage rights.