S.B. 120

1

PAYMENT OF WAGES AMENDMENTS
2 2003 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: Scott K. Jenkins
5 This act modifies provisions in the Labor in General Title related to prohibited
6 retaliation. This act makes technical changes.
7 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
8 AMENDS:
9 34-28-19, as last amended by Chapter 52, Laws of Utah 1999
10 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
11 Section 1. Section 34-28-19 is amended to read:
12 34-28-19. Retaliation prohibited -- Administrative process -- Enforcement --
13 Rulemaking.
14 (1) (a) An employer violates this chapter if the employer [discharges an employee, or
15 threatens to discharge an employee] takes an action described in Subsection (1)(b) against an
16 employee because:
17 [(a)] (i) the employee [has filed] files a complaint or [testified] testifies in a proceeding
18 relative to the enforcement of this chapter;
19 [(b)] (ii) the employee is [about] going to file a complaint or testify in a proceeding
20 relative to the enforcement of this chapter; or
21 [(c)] (iii) the employer believes that the employee may file a complaint or testify in any
22 proceeding relative to the enforcement of this chapter.
23 (b) Subsection (1)(a) applies to the following actions of an employer:
24 (i) the discharge of an employee;
25 (ii) the demotion of an employee;
26 (iii) the refusal to promote an employee; or
27 (iv) any other form of retaliation against an employee in the terms, privileges, or

28 conditions of employment.
29 (2) (a) An employee claiming to be aggrieved by an action of the employer in violation
30 of Subsection (1) may file with the division a request for agency action.
31 (b) On receipt of a request for agency action under Subsection (2)(a), the division:
32 (i) shall conduct an adjudicative proceeding pursuant to Title 63, Chapter 46b,
33 Administrative Procedures Act; and
34 (ii) may attempt to reach a settlement between the parties through a settlement
35 conference.
36 (3) If the division determines that a violation has occurred, the division may require the
37 employer to:
38 (a) cease and desist any retaliatory action;
39 (b) compensate the employee, which compensation may not exceed reimbursement for,
40 and payment of, lost wages and benefits to the employee; or
41 (c) do both (3)(a) and (b).
42 (4) The division may enforce this section in accordance with Subsections 34-28-9 (3)
43 and (4).
44 (5) [The] In accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking
45 Act, the commission shall adopt rules, as required, to implement this section.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-17-03 4:49 PM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel