Kentucky House Bill seems to hurt low income workers

rambot · Feb 28, 2024

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 337 to provide for certain employment activities to be exempt from minimum wage and overtime wage requirements; specify activities and instances that do not require an employer to pay minimum wage or overtime wage; provide for employer requirements regarding lunch periods; amend KRS 337.010 to change the definitions of "employee" and "agriculture"; amend KRS 337.385 to specify instances of employer liability for employee causes of action regarding unpaid wages; specify statute of limitations for employee causes of action for unpaid wages; bar punitive damages; amend KRS 337.990 to remove penalties for repealed statutes; repeal KRS 337.050, 337.355, and 337.365; amend KRS 95A.250, 337.020, 337.420, 337.423, 337.425, 337.427, 337.430, and 337.433 to conform.

I'll be the FIRST to say my track record on putting up legislation is laughably bad so if folks choose to ignore it, I'd understand.

But all of this seems like it is going to have a huge benefit for those with capital and a huge problem for those trying to earn capital with low skills.

Am I messing this one up again?

It seems like this kind of legislation would/could be aimed at attracting more business into Kentucky..... is that fair to say?

iluvatar5150 · Feb 28, 2024

rambot said:
24RS HB 500

Bill Summary
24RS HB 500

I'll be the FIRST to say my track record on putting up legislation is laughably bad so if folks choose to ignore it, I'd understand.

But all of this seems like it is going to have a huge benefit for those with capital and a huge problem for those trying to earn capital with low skills.

Am I messing this one up again?

That's my understanding of it as well.

rambot said:
It seems like this kind of legislation would/could be aimed at attracting more business into Kentucky..... is that fair to say?

I don't know if that's the rationale, but assuming it is - If you're so desperate for employers that you're trying to entice them by eliminating mandatory lunch breaks, then you have other, much bigger problems.

Laodicean60 · Feb 28, 2024

The way it reads to me is that it'll allow companies to stiff the employee. Doesn't the dept of Labor specify overtime? and also rest periods?

rambot · Feb 28, 2024

Laodicean60 said:
The way it reads to me is that it'll allow companies to stiff the employee. Doesn't the dept of Labor specify overtime? and also rest periods?

yeah. It kinda seems to contradict some pretty basic worker's rights.
Not to say that's impossible but.....

DaisyDay · Mar 1, 2024

Summary of Original Version:

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 337 to provide for certain employment activities to be exempt from minimum wage and overtime wage requirements; specify activities and instances that do not require an employer to pay minimum wage or overtime wage; provide for employer requirements regarding lunch periods; amend KRS 337.010 to change the definitions of "employee" and "agriculture"; amend KRS 337.385 to specify instances of employer liability for employee causes of action regarding unpaid wages; specify statute of limitations for employee causes of action for unpaid wages; bar punitive damages; amend KRS 337.990 to remove penalties for repealed statutes; repeal KRS 337.050, 337.355, and 337.365; amend KRS 95A.250, 337.020, 337.420, 337.423, 337.425, 337.427, 337.430, and 337.433 to conform.

Classes of workers to be exempt from minimum wage and overtime: farm workers (not new), domestic servants, interns and apprentices*, personal caregivers, nannies, home health aids - generally typically poorly compensated will not be covered - if I am reading this correctly.

Proposed Amendments:

Retain original provisions, except amend KRS 337.385 to provide that a court shall award an employee liquidated damages if a court finds that the employer has subjected the employee to forced labor or services; specify a three year statute of limitations period rather than a two year period.

There's a two or three year statute of limitations on suing for enslavement? Seems mild.

*When my did was doing family genealogy, he came across some harsh words from a young man who felt his family had sold him into slavery as a muleskinner apprentice.

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Kentucky House Bill seems to hurt low income workers

rambot

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iluvatar5150

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Laodicean60

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rambot

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DaisyDay

I Did Nothing Wrong!! ~~Team Deep State

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