MassVoter.com← All 2017–2018 votesSenate roll call #428 · 2017–2018 session
To prevent wage theft and promote employer accountability
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What they voted on
Approve the bill in this chamber (it still needs the other chamber and a final vote)
Official wording: S.2546, Question on passing the bill to be engrossed
Who filed S.2546
Sponsor Senate Committee on Ways and Means
Committees often rewrite bills. The legislators who filed the original versions are listed on malegislature.gov.
Passed
Every member's vote
Voted yes (38)
- Michael J. Barrett Third Middlesex · Democrat
- Joseph A. Boncore First Suffolk and Middlesex · Democrat
- Michael D. Brady Second Plymouth and Bristol · Democrat
- William N. Brownsberger Second Suffolk and Middlesex · Democrat
- Harriette L. Chandler First Worcester · Democrat
- Sonia Chang-Diaz Second Suffolk · Democrat
- Nick Collins First Suffolk · Democrat
- Cynthia Stone Creem First Middlesex and Norfolk · Democrat
- Brendan P. Crighton Third Essex · Democrat
- Julian Cyr Cape and Islands · Democrat
- Viriato M. deMacedo Plymouth and Barnstable · Republican
- Sal N. DiDomenico Middlesex and Suffolk · Democrat
- James B. Eldridge Middlesex and Worcester · Democrat
- Ryan C. Fattman Worcester and Norfolk · Republican
- Paul R. Feeney Bristol and Norfolk · Democrat
- Cindy F. Friedman Fourth Middlesex · Democrat
- Anne M. Gobi Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex · Democrat
- Adam G. Hinds Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden · Democrat
- Donald F. Humason, Jr. Second Hampden and Hampshire · Republican
- Kathleen O'Connor Ives First Essex · Democrat
- Patricia D. Jehlen Second Middlesex · Democrat
- John F. Keenan Norfolk and Plymouth · Democrat
- Barbara A. L'Italien Second Essex and Middlesex · Democrat
- Eric P. Lesser First Hampden and Hampshire · Democrat
- Jason M. Lewis Fifth Middlesex · Democrat
- Joan B. Lovely Second Essex · Democrat
- Mark C. Montigny Second Bristol and Plymouth · Democrat
- Michael O. Moore Second Worcester · Democrat
- Patrick M. O'Connor Plymouth and Norfolk · Republican
- Marc R. Pacheco First Plymouth and Bristol · Democrat
- Michael J. Rodrigues First Bristol and Plymouth · Democrat
- Richard J. Ross Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex · Republican
- Michael F. Rush Norfolk and Suffolk · Democrat
- Karen E. Spilka Second Middlesex and Norfolk · Democrat
- Bruce E. Tarr First Essex and Middlesex · Republican
- Walter F. Timilty Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth · Democrat
- Dean A. Tran Worcester and Middlesex · Republican
- James T. Welch Hampden · Democrat
What it means
Defines "wage theft" in state law as breaking any of a list of existing wage, overtime and pay laws, and sets a maximum penalty of $25,000 for it. Businesses that get workers through labor contractors would share legal responsibility for those contractors' unpaid wages in some cases, with exceptions for businesses with fewer than 25 workers or 5 or fewer contracted workers at a site, and defenses for those that check pay records or carry a bond. The Attorney General and the unemployment agency could issue stop work orders at a job site for wage theft or unpaid unemployment contributions, the Attorney General could sue for triple damages for workers, and a Wage Theft Compensation Trust Fund run by the Attorney General would provide compensation related to wage theft. Employers other than licensed staffing agencies would also have to give new workers a written notice of pay rate, pay day and employer contact details within 10 days; takes effect July 1, 2019.
Source: official text and history of S.2546 on malegislature.gov. This describes the bill text posted there; amendments may have changed the version that was voted on.
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Source: S.2546 on malegislature.gov · official roll call. MassVoter never grades or scores legislators. How to read this