In 2010, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed the Wage Theft Prevention Act. (Chapter 564 of 2010). Effective since April 9, 2011, the law helps protect workers from wage and hour abuses by increasing penalties for wage underpayments, strengthening enforcement tools available to the Department of Labor, and enhancing anti-retaliation protections. In view of the nearly three years that have passed since its adoption, members of the Assembly's Standing Committee on Labor are seeking to evaluate how well the Wage Theft Prevention Act has accomplished its intended goals. Specifically, the Committee would like to gather information about whether the Act has successfully protected workers from nonpayment and underpayment of wages, whether the enhanced enforcement mechanisms have been fully utilized by the Department of Labor, and lastly, what challenges employees have faced since the Act's enactment.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes' duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

Carl E. Heastie
Member of Assembly
Chair
Committee on Labor

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Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on The Wage Theft Prevention Act are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail, email or fax it to: