Employment: nonpayment of wages: complaints.
- Establishes new timelines and procedures for the Labor Commissioner to investigate wage theft complaints.
- Creates a Wage Recovery Fund funded by a 30% fee on wage theft judgments to compensate unpaid workers.
- Requires employers appealing wage theft decisions to post a bond equal to the amount owed.
- Grants the Labor Commissioner authority to place liens on employer property to secure unpaid wages.
Assembly Member Ortega's wage enforcement legislation revises California's process for investigating and resolving employee wage complaints through the Labor Commissioner's office. The bill establishes specific timelines for complaint processing, creates new enforcement mechanisms, and establishes a dedicated Wage Recovery Fund.
The legislation requires the Labor Commissioner to notify parties of wage complaints within 60 days and defendants to respond within 30 days. After receiving responses, the Commissioner must conduct investigations within 90 days, including making wage and penalty assessments and determining liable parties. The bill authorizes the Commissioner to issue subpoenas for employment records and mandates formal complaints detailing allegations, violations, and requested compensation.
Under the new provisions, hearings must occur within 90 days of formal complaints, with options for in-person, telephone, or video proceedings. The bill classifies appeals as unlimited civil cases and requires defendants to post appeal bonds equal to awarded amounts. A new 30% administrative fee on awards funds the Wage Recovery Fund, which provides compensation to workers harmed by wage violations.
The legislation expands enforcement tools by allowing the Labor Commissioner to place liens on employers' real property and obtain information about employers' assets. Courts must prioritize enforcement of wage judgments, and successful appellants can recover attorney fees and costs. The bill maintains the Labor Commissioner's existing authority to investigate complaints and hold hearings while adding structured timelines and procedures for each stage of wage claim resolution.
 Ash KalraD Assemblymember | Bill Author |  Not Contacted | |
 Joaquin ArambulaD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
 Buffy WicksD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
 Lisa CalderonD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
 Mike FongD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted |
Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.
Introduced By
Latest Voting History
| Ayes | Noes | NVR | Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 2 | 2 | 12 | PASS |
- Establishes new timelines and procedures for the Labor Commissioner to investigate wage theft complaints.
- Creates a Wage Recovery Fund funded by a 30% fee on wage theft judgments to compensate unpaid workers.
- Requires employers appealing wage theft decisions to post a bond equal to the amount owed.
- Grants the Labor Commissioner authority to place liens on employer property to secure unpaid wages.
Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.
Introduced By
Assembly Member Ortega's wage enforcement legislation revises California's process for investigating and resolving employee wage complaints through the Labor Commissioner's office. The bill establishes specific timelines for complaint processing, creates new enforcement mechanisms, and establishes a dedicated Wage Recovery Fund.
The legislation requires the Labor Commissioner to notify parties of wage complaints within 60 days and defendants to respond within 30 days. After receiving responses, the Commissioner must conduct investigations within 90 days, including making wage and penalty assessments and determining liable parties. The bill authorizes the Commissioner to issue subpoenas for employment records and mandates formal complaints detailing allegations, violations, and requested compensation.
Under the new provisions, hearings must occur within 90 days of formal complaints, with options for in-person, telephone, or video proceedings. The bill classifies appeals as unlimited civil cases and requires defendants to post appeal bonds equal to awarded amounts. A new 30% administrative fee on awards funds the Wage Recovery Fund, which provides compensation to workers harmed by wage violations.
The legislation expands enforcement tools by allowing the Labor Commissioner to place liens on employers' real property and obtain information about employers' assets. Courts must prioritize enforcement of wage judgments, and successful appellants can recover attorney fees and costs. The bill maintains the Labor Commissioner's existing authority to investigate complaints and hold hearings while adding structured timelines and procedures for each stage of wage claim resolution.
Latest Voting History
| Ayes | Noes | NVR | Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 2 | 2 | 12 | PASS |
Ash KalraD Assemblymember | Bill Author | Not Contacted | |
Joaquin ArambulaD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Buffy WicksD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Lisa CalderonD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
Mike FongD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted |