On February 21, 2012, the House Judiciary Committee approved a wage theft bill (HB 609), which is intended to nullify local wage theft ordinances. The bill creates a cause of action for wage theft. It requires pre-suit notice and a 15-day right to cure. Jury trials and class actions are barred. Venue provisions favor employers. There is a one-year statute of limitations. Recovery is limited to backpay, court costs, and interest. Attorney's fees are not recoverable. Local ordinances are nullified to the extent that they provide employees greater protections for payment of wages. The bill does not apply to employers with annual revenues in excess of $500,000. If enacted, the law would take effect July 1, 2012.
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