VA SB838 | 2020 | Regular Session

Status

Completed Legislative Action
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: Passed on April 10 2020 - 100% progression
Action: 2020-04-10 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1038)
Text: Latest bill text (Chaptered) [HTML]

Summary

Nonpayment of wages; private action; liability for payment of wages due under construction contracts; penalties. Provides that an employee has a private cause of action, individually, jointly, with other aggrieved employees as a collective action, or on behalf of similarly situated employees as a collective action, under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act against an employer who fails to pay wages to recover the amount of wages due plus interest at eight percent annually from the date the wages were due, an additional amount as liquidated damages, and reasonable attorney fees and costs. If the court finds that the employer knowingly failed to pay wages, the court shall award the employee reasonable attorney fees and costs and the employer is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for each violation. If the court finds that the employer's failure to pay wages was willful and with intent to defraud the employee, the court shall award the employee triple the amount of wages due and reasonable attorney fees and costs. The measure also provides that any construction contract entered into on or after July 1, 2020, shall be deemed to include a provision under which the general contractor and the subcontractor are jointly and severally liable to pay the wages due to the subcontractor's employees. If the wages due to the subcontractor's employees are not paid, the general contractor is subject to criminal and civil penalties for which an employer is liable for failing or refusing to pay wages. The measure requires the subcontractor to indemnify the general contractor for wages, damages, interest, penalties, or attorney fees owed as a result of the subcontractor's failure to pay the wages unless the subcontractor's failure to pay wages was because of the general contractor's failure to pay moneys due to the subcontractor. The provisions of the bill related to construction contracts only apply if (i) it can be demonstrated that the general contractor knew or should have known that the subcontractor was not paying his employees all wages due, (ii) the construction contract is related to a project other than a single family residential project, and (iii) the value of the project, or an aggregate of projects under one construction contract, is greater than $500,000.

Tracking Information

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Title

Nonpayment of wages; cause of action, penalties.

Sponsors


Roll Calls

2020-03-07 - Senate - Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (22-Y 18-N) (Y: 22 N: 18 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2020-03-05 - House - House: VOTE: Adoption (52-Y 45-N 1-A) (Y: 52 N: 45 NV: 2 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2020-03-04 - Senate - Senate: Senate acceded to request (23-Y 17-N) (Y: 23 N: 17 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2020-03-02 - Senate - Senate: House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N) (Y: 0 N: 40 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [FAIL]
2020-02-28 - House - House: VOTE: Passage (52-Y 46-N 1-A) (Y: 52 N: 46 NV: 1 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2020-02-25 - House - House: Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (11-Y 8-N) (Y: 11 N: 8 NV: 2 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2020-02-11 - Senate - Senate: Passed Senate (22-Y 18-N) (Y: 22 N: 18 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2020-02-11 - Senate - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) (Y: 39 N: 0 NV: 1 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2020-02-11 - Senate - Senate: Engrossment reconsidered by Senate (40-Y 0-N) (Y: 40 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2020-02-11 - Senate - Senate: Reconsideration of passage agreed to by Senate (39-Y 1-N) (Y: 39 N: 1 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2020-02-11 - Senate - Senate: Passed Senate (20-Y 20-N) (Y: 20 N: 20 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [FAIL]
2020-02-11 - Senate - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (Y: 40 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2020-02-10 - Senate - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (36-Y 0-N) (Y: 36 N: 0 NV: 4 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2020-02-06 - Senate - Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 1-N) (Y: 15 N: 1 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2020-02-03 - Senate - Senate: Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (12-Y 2-N) (Y: 12 N: 2 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]

History

DateChamberAction
2020-04-10 Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP1038)
2020-04-10 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 1038 (effective 7/1/20)
2020-03-20 Governor: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 11, 2020
2020-03-20SenateEnrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 20, 2020
2020-03-19HouseSigned by Speaker
2020-03-18SenateSigned by President
2020-03-18SenateEnrolled
2020-03-18SenateBill text as passed Senate and House (SB838ER)
2020-03-07SenateConference report agreed to by Senate (22-Y 18-N)
2020-03-05HouseVOTE: Adoption (52-Y 45-N 1-A)
2020-03-05HouseConference report agreed to by House (52-Y 45-N 1-A)
2020-03-05 Conference: Amended by conference committee
2020-03-05HouseDelegates: Carroll Foy, Kory, Fariss
2020-03-05HouseConferees appointed by House
2020-03-04SenateSenators: Ebbin, Spruill, Obenshain
2020-03-04SenateConferees appointed by Senate
2020-03-04SenateSenate acceded to request (23-Y 17-N)
2020-03-03HouseHouse requested conference committee
2020-03-03HouseHouse insisted on substitute
2020-03-02SenateHouse substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N)
2020-02-28HouseVOTE: Passage (52-Y 46-N 1-A)
2020-02-28HousePassed House with substitute (52-Y 46-N 1-A)
2020-02-28HouseEngrossed by House - committee substitute SB838H1
2020-02-28HouseCommittee substitute agreed to 20109103D-H1
2020-02-28HouseRead third time
2020-02-27HouseRead second time
2020-02-25HouseCommittee substitute printed 20109103D-H1
2020-02-25HouseReported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (11-Y 8-N)
2020-02-14HouseReferred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
2020-02-14HouseRead first time
2020-02-14HousePlaced on Calendar
2020-02-11SenatePassed Senate (22-Y 18-N)
2020-02-11SenateConstitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)
2020-02-11SenatePrinted as engrossed 20106124D-ES1
2020-02-11SenateEngrossed by Senate - committee substitute with amendments SB838ES1
2020-02-11SenateAmendments by Senator Ebbin agreed to
2020-02-11SenateReading of amendments waived
2020-02-11SenateEngrossment reconsidered by Senate (40-Y 0-N)
2020-02-11SenatePassed by temporarily
2020-02-11SenateReconsideration of passage agreed to by Senate (39-Y 1-N)
2020-02-11SenateChair votes Yes
2020-02-11SenatePassed Senate (20-Y 20-N)
2020-02-11SenateConstitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N)
2020-02-11SenateEngrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB838S1
2020-02-11SenateCommittee substitute agreed to 20106124D-S1
2020-02-11SenateReading of substitute waived
2020-02-11SenateRead second time
2020-02-10SenateConstitutional reading dispensed (36-Y 0-N)
2020-02-06SenateReported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 1-N)
2020-02-03SenateRereferred to Finance and Appropriations
2020-02-03SenateCommittee substitute printed 20106124D-S1
2020-02-03SenateReported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (12-Y 2-N)
2020-01-08SenateReferred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
2020-01-08SenatePrefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/20 20104975D

Code Citations

ChapterArticleSectionCitation TypeStatute Text
40129(n/a)See Bill Text

Virginia State Sources

TypeSource
Summaryhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+sum+SB838
Texthttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+ful+SB838+hil
Texthttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+ful+SB838S1+hil
Texthttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+ful+SB838ES1+hil
Texthttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+ful+SB838H1+hil
Texthttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+ful+SB838ER+hil
Texthttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+ful+CHAP1038+hil
Roll Callhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+S02V0095+SB0838
Roll Callhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+S05V0270+SB0838
Roll Callhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+SV0457SB0838+SB0838
Roll Callhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+SV0528SB0838+SB0838
Roll Callhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+SV0557SB0838+SB0838
Roll Callhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+SV0561SB0838+SB0838
Roll Callhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+SV0588SB0838+SB0838
Roll Callhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+SV0589SB0838+SB0838
Roll Callhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+SV0590SB0838+SB0838
Roll Callhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+H14V0322+SB0838
Roll Callhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+HV1611+SB0838
Roll Callhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+SV1352SB0838+SB0838
Roll Callhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+SV1514SB0838+SB0838
Roll Callhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+HV1901+SB0838
Roll Callhttps://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+vot+SV1781SB0838+SB0838

Bill Comments

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