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<leg xml:space="preserve" billnum="HB0186" sponsor="Kay J. Christofferson" designation="HB" otherSponsor="Heidi Balderree" otherHouse="Senate" subNumber="02" subSponsor="Kay J. Christofferson" sess="2025GS" fileno="2025FL1009" date="02-21-25" printDate="02-21 11:59" subVer="2" minVer="0" office="LEGISLATIVE GENERAL COUNSEL" actionDate="" impact="code"><info><nextbuid>5</nextbuid><aminfo anum="0" effdate="05/07/2025"><seclist><sect action="A" src="code" buid="3" uid="C34-27-S1_2025050720250507" fromuid="C34-27-S1_2024050120240501" sort="34 27 00010020250507" mtype="section" effdate="05/07/2025">34-27-1</sect><sect action="A" src="code" buid="1" uid="C34-28-S5_2025050720250507" fromuid="C34-28-S5_2018050820180508" sort="34 28 00050020250507" mtype="section" effdate="05/07/2025">34-28-5</sect><sect src="uncod" untype="effdate" buid="4" uid="EF0000" sort="UZEFF" mtype="uncod" effdate="05/07/2025"/></seclist></aminfo></info><tbox><sinfo/><st numlevel="1" lineno="1" slineno="0-1">Wage Payment Amendments</st><sessionhead>2025 GENERAL SESSION</sessionhead><statehead>STATE OF UTAH</statehead><sponsorhead>Chief Sponsor: Kay J. Christofferson</sponsorhead><otherSponsorhead>Senate Sponsor: Heidi Balderree</otherSponsorhead></tbox><lt numlevel="1" lineno="2" slineno="0-2"><lthead lineno="3">LONG TITLE</lthead><gdhead lineno="4">General Description:</gdhead><gd numlevel="1" lineno="5" slineno="0-5">This bill modifies the payment of wages provisions.</gd><hphead lineno="6">Highlighted Provisions:</hphead><hp numlevel="1" lineno="7" slineno="0-7">This bill:<hl numlevel="1" lineno="8" slineno="0-8" level="1">removes references that require an employee separating from an employer to provide a <ln numlevel="1" lineno="9" slineno="0-9"/>written demand for payment; </hl><hl numlevel="1" lineno="10" slineno="0-10" level="1">removes the requirement that an employee make a demand in writing 15 days before <ln numlevel="1" lineno="11" slineno="0-11"/>bringing a suit for wages; </hl><hl numlevel="1" lineno="12" slineno="0-12" level="1">requires that an employee, who disputes the amount an employer pays to the employee <ln numlevel="1" lineno="13" slineno="0-13"/>upon separation, provide notice to the employer before initiating a legal action; and</hl><hl numlevel="1" lineno="14" slineno="0-14" level="1">makes technical and conforming changes.</hl></hp><moni numlevel="1" lineno="15" slineno="0-15" display="none">Money Appropriated in this Bill:</moni><moniNone lineno="16">None</moniNone><oc numlevel="1" lineno="17" slineno="0-17">Other Special Clauses:</oc><ocNone lineno="18">None</ocNone><sa numlevel="1" lineno="19" slineno="0-19">Utah Code Sections Affected:<saamd numlevel="1" lineno="20" slineno="0-20"><snhead>AMENDS:</snhead><sn num="34-27-1" src="code" uid="C34-27-S1_2025050720250507" buid="3" sort="34 27 00010020250507" numlevel="1" lineno="21" slineno="0-21"><bold>34-27-1</bold>, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 365</sn><sn num="34-28-5" src="code" uid="C34-28-S5_2025050720250507" buid="1" sort="34 28 00050020250507" numlevel="1" lineno="22" slineno="0-22"><bold>34-28-5</bold>, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 307</sn></saamd></sa></lt><enacthead lineno="23"/><enact numlevel="1" lineno="24" slineno="0-24">Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:</enact><bdy><bsec buid="3" num="34-27-1" type="amend" src="code" uid="C34-27-S1_2025050720250507" sort="34 27 00010020250507" numlevel="1" lineno="25" slineno="1-1" sn="1"><section number="34-27-1" numlevel="1" lineno="26" slineno="1-2" type="amend"><secline lineno="25">Section 1, Section <bold>34-27-1</bold> is amended to read:</secline><catline lineno="26"><bold>34-27-1. Reasonable amount -- Taxed as costs.</bold></catline><sectionText lineno="27"><tab/><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="113" groupid="99" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both">Whenever a mechanic, artisan, miner, laborer, servant, or other employee shall have <ln numlevel="1" lineno="28" slineno="1-4"/>cause to bring suit for wages earned and due according to the terms of that individual's <ln numlevel="1" lineno="29" slineno="1-5"/>employment and shall establish by the decision of the court that the amount for which the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="30" slineno="1-6"/>plaintiff has brought suit is justly due, and that a demand has been made in writing at least 15 <ln numlevel="1" lineno="31" slineno="1-7"/>days before suit was brought for a sum not to exceed the amount so found due, then it shall be <ln numlevel="1" lineno="32" slineno="1-8"/>the duty of the court before which the case shall be tried to allow to the plaintiff a reasonable <ln numlevel="1" lineno="33" slineno="1-9"/>attorneys' fee in addition to the amount found due for wages, to be taxed as costs of suit.</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="102" groupid="91" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">If a <ln numlevel="1" lineno="34" slineno="1-10"/>mechanic, artisan, miner, laborer, servant, or other employee has cause to bring suit for wages <ln numlevel="1" lineno="35" slineno="1-11"/>according to the terms of that individual's employment, and is awarded wages in a court with <ln numlevel="1" lineno="36" slineno="1-12"/>jurisdiction, the court shall:</amend></sectionText><subsection ssid="3-3-8" dnum="_-o:1-i" numlevel="1" lineno="37" slineno="1-13" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="1"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1000" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(1)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="107" groupid="94" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">establish the amount that the plaintiff is due; and</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="3-3-9" dnum="_-o:2-i" numlevel="1" lineno="38" slineno="1-14" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="1"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1001" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(2)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="112" groupid="98" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">award attorney fees, to be taxed as costs of suit.</amend></subsection></section></bsec><bsec buid="1" num="34-28-5" type="amend" src="code" uid="C34-28-S5_2025050720250507" sort="34 28 00050020250507" numlevel="1" lineno="39" slineno="2-1" sn="2"><section number="34-28-5" numlevel="1" lineno="40" slineno="2-2" type="amend"><secline lineno="39">Section 2, Section <bold>34-28-5</bold> is amended to read:</secline><catline lineno="40"><bold>34-28-5. Separation from payroll -- Resignation -- Cessation because of <ln numlevel="1" lineno="41" slineno="2-3"/>industrial dispute.</bold></catline><subsection ssid="1-1-1" dnum="1-o" numlevel="1" lineno="42" slineno="2-4" level="1" placement="noreturn" space="false"><display>(1)</display><subsection ssid="1-1-2" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>When an employer separates an employee from the employer's payroll<amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="53" groupid="42" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both">:</amend> <subsection ssid="1-22" dnum="_-o:i-i" numlevel="1" lineno="43" slineno="2-5" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="3" tab="1"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1004" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both">(i)</amend></display>the unpaid wages of the employee become due immediately<amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="68" groupid="56" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both">,</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="63" groupid="51" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">;</amend> and </subsection><subsection ssid="1-18" dnum="_-o:ii-i" numlevel="1" lineno="44" slineno="2-6" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="3" tab="1"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1005" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both">(ii)</amend></display>the employer shall pay the wages to the employee within <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="130" groupid="100" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both">24 hours</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="125" groupid="95" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">three business <ln numlevel="1" lineno="45" slineno="2-7"/>days</amend> of the time of separation at the specified place of payment.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-3" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="46" slineno="2-8" level="2"><display>(b)</display>An employer satisfies the <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="131" groupid="101" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both">24-hour</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="126" groupid="96" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">three business days</amend> time requirement described <ln numlevel="1" lineno="47" slineno="2-9"/>in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="34-28-5(1)(a)" start="0">(1)(a)</xref> if:<subsection ssid="1-1-4" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="48" slineno="2-10" level="3" space="false"><display>(i)</display><subsection ssid="1-1-5" dnum="A-o" level="4" placement="sameline"><display>(A)</display>the employer mails the wages to the employee; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-6" dnum="B-o" numlevel="1" lineno="49" slineno="2-11" level="4"><display>(B)</display>the envelope that contains the wages is postmarked with a date that is no more <ln numlevel="1" lineno="50" slineno="2-12"/>than one day after the day on which the employer separates the employee from <ln numlevel="1" lineno="51" slineno="2-13"/>the employer's payroll; or</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-7" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="52" slineno="2-14" level="3"><display>(ii)</display>within <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="132" groupid="102" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both">24 hours</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="127" groupid="97" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">three business days</amend> after the employer separates the employee <ln numlevel="1" lineno="53" slineno="2-15"/>from the employer's payroll, the employer:<subsection ssid="1-1-8" dnum="A-o" numlevel="1" lineno="54" slineno="2-16" level="4"><display>(A)</display>initiates a direct deposit of the wages into the employee's account; or</subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-9" dnum="B-o" numlevel="1" lineno="55" slineno="2-17" level="4"><display>(B)</display>hand delivers the wages to the employee.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-10" dnum="c-o" numlevel="1" lineno="56" slineno="2-18" level="2" space="false"><display>(c)</display><subsection ssid="1-1-11" dnum="i-o" level="3" placement="sameline"><display>(i)</display>In case of failure to pay wages due an employee within <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="133" groupid="103" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both">24 hours of written <ln numlevel="1" lineno="57" slineno="2-19"/>demand,</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="129" groupid="99" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">three business days,</amend> the wages of the employee shall continue<amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="64" groupid="52" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both">, at the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="58" slineno="2-20"/>same rate that the employee received at the time of separation,</amend> from the date of <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="103" groupid="86" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both"><ln numlevel="1" lineno="59" slineno="2-21"/>demand until paid, but in no event to exceed 60 days, at the same rate that the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="60" slineno="2-22"/>employee received at the time of separation.</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="85" groupid="71" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">separation until the earlier of:</amend><subsection ssid="1-24" dnum="_-o:A-i" numlevel="1" lineno="61" slineno="2-23" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="4" tab="1"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1015" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(A)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="62" groupid="50" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">the date of payment; or</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-26" dnum="_-o:B-i" numlevel="1" lineno="62" slineno="2-24" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="4" tab="1"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1016" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(B)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="77" groupid="63" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">60 days after the date of separation.</amend></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-12" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="63" slineno="2-25" level="3"><display>(ii)</display>The employee may recover the penalty <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="78" groupid="64" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both">thus </amend><amendoutend style="2"/>accruing to the employee in a civil <ln numlevel="1" lineno="64" slineno="2-26"/>action.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-29" dnum="_-o:iii-i" numlevel="1" lineno="65" slineno="2-27" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="3"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1018" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(iii)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="124" groupid="94" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">When an employer pays the owed wages and the employee disputes the amount, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="66" slineno="2-28"/>the employee shall:</amend><subsection ssid="1-30" dnum="_-o:A-i" numlevel="1" lineno="67" slineno="2-29" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="4"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1019" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(A)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="137" groupid="107" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">give written notice to the employer; and </amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-31" dnum="_-o:B-i" numlevel="1" lineno="68" slineno="2-30" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="4"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1020" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(B)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="143" groupid="112" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" m-anum="0" m-ea="amend" m-pairid="141" m-groupid="110" m-style="1" m-owner="jchristopherson" m-level="1" amendtag="end">allow the employer three business days to respond before the employee may <ln numlevel="1" lineno="69" slineno="2-31"/>initiate legal action.</amend>  </subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-19" dnum="_-o:iv-i" numlevel="1" lineno="70" slineno="2-32" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="3"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1021" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both">(iv)</amend></display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="81" groupid="67" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both">This action shall be commenced </amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="80" groupid="66" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">The employee shall commence an action to <ln numlevel="1" lineno="71" slineno="2-33"/>recover the penalty within 60 days from the later of:</amend><subsection ssid="1-27" dnum="_-o:A-i" numlevel="1" lineno="72" slineno="2-34" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="4"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1022" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both">(A)</amend></display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="102" groupid="85" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both">within 60 days from </amend><amendoutend style="2"/>the<amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="101" groupid="84" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both"> date the employee exhausts the employee's <ln numlevel="1" lineno="73" slineno="2-35"/>administrative remedies described in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="34-28-9">34-28-9</xref> and rules made by the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="74" slineno="2-36"/>commission under Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="34-28-9">34-28-9</xref>, if the employee filed a wage claim with the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="75" slineno="2-37"/>division; or</amend></subsection><subsection ssid="1-28" dnum="_-o:B-i" numlevel="1" lineno="76" slineno="2-38" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="4"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1023" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="start">(B)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="94" groupid="78" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="end">the</amend> date of separation.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-13" dnum="iii-o:_-i" numlevel="1" lineno="77" slineno="2-39" ea="erase" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="2" level="3"><display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="1024" style="2" owner="o" level="1" deltag="start">(iii)</amend></display><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="4" groupid="3" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="end">An employee who has not made a written demand for payment is not entitled to <ln numlevel="1" lineno="78" slineno="2-40"/>any penalty under this Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="34-28-5(1)(c)" start="0">(1)(c)</xref>.</amend><amendoutend style="2"/></subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-14" dnum="2-o" numlevel="1" lineno="79" slineno="2-41" level="1"><display>(2)</display>If an employee<amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="28" groupid="19" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both"> </amend><amendoutend style="2"/> does not have a written contract for a definite period and resigns<amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="29" groupid="20" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both"> </amend><amendoutend style="2"/> the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="80" slineno="2-42"/>employee's employment, the wages earned and unpaid together with any deposit held by <ln numlevel="1" lineno="81" slineno="2-43"/>the employer and properly belonging to the resigned employee for the performance of <ln numlevel="1" lineno="82" slineno="2-44"/>the employee's employment duties become due and payable on the next regular payday.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-15" dnum="3-o" numlevel="1" lineno="83" slineno="2-45" level="1"><display>(3)</display>If work ceases as the result of an industrial dispute, the wages earned and unpaid at the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="84" slineno="2-46"/>time of this cessation become due and payable at the next regular payday, as provided in <ln numlevel="1" lineno="85" slineno="2-47"/>Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="34-28-3" start="0">34-28-3</xref>, including<amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="84" groupid="70" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both">,</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="83" groupid="69" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">:</amend> <subsection ssid="1-20" dnum="_-o:a-i" numlevel="1" lineno="86" slineno="2-48" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1027" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both">(a)</amend></display><amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="47" groupid="37" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both">without abatement or reduction, </amend><amendoutend style="2"/>all amounts due <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="104" groupid="87" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both">all persons whose work has been <ln numlevel="1" lineno="87" slineno="2-49"/>suspended as a result of the industrial dispute, together with</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="38" groupid="28" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">without abatement or <ln numlevel="1" lineno="88" slineno="2-50"/>reduction; and</amend> </subsection><subsection ssid="1-21" dnum="_-o:b-i" numlevel="1" lineno="89" slineno="2-51" ea="amend" anum="0" owner="jchristopherson" style="1" level="2"><display><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1028" style="1" owner="i" level="1" amendtag="both">(b)</amend></display>any deposit or other guaranty held by the employer for the faithful performance of <ln numlevel="1" lineno="90" slineno="2-52"/>the duties of the employment.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-1-16" dnum="4-o" numlevel="1" lineno="91" slineno="2-53" level="1"><display>(4)</display>For a sales agent employed in whole or in part on a commission basis who has custody <ln numlevel="1" lineno="92" slineno="2-54"/>of accounts, money, or goods of the sales agent's principal, this section does not apply to <ln numlevel="1" lineno="93" slineno="2-55"/>the commission-based portion of the sales agent's earnings if the net amount due the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="94" slineno="2-56"/>agent is determined only after an audit or verification of sales, accounts, funds, or stocks.</subsection></section></bsec><bsec buid="4" type="uncod" untype="effdate" src="uncod" uid="EF0000" sort="UZEFF" langlock="true" numlevel="1" lineno="95" slineno="3-1" sn="3"><section type="uncod" untype="effdate" display="false" src="uncod"><secline lineno="95">Section 3.  <bold>Effective Date.</bold></secline><sectionText lineno="96"><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1" groupid="1" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both">This bill takes effect on <effdate uid="code" date="5/7/2025">May 7, 2025</effdate>.</amend></sectionText></section></bsec></bdy><foot><rev><tm>2-19-25 3:28 PM</tm></rev></foot></leg>