HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1397        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1693

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Tackey Chan

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to protect wages of employees who receive wages through an electronic wage card.

_______________

PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1397        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1693

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3989 OF 2013-2014.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

An Act to protect wages of employees who receive wages through an electronic wage card.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 1 of chapter 149 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the definition of “discrimination” the following definition:-

“Electronic wage card” is a card or other similar medium issued by an employer to an employee in order for an employee to receive payment of wages from an employer and where said employee’s wages are deposited into an account that is established and controlled by the employer or third party designated by the employer.

SECTION 2. Section 148 of said chapter 149, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the seventh paragraph, the following three paragraphs:-

Any employer paying wages by electronic wage card shall provide facilities for the employee to withdraw or transfer the employee’s wages in full without fee on or after the employee’s pay day and shall provide that any fees associated with usage of the card after the card’s initial transaction are disclosed in advance to the employee.

An employer shall not deliver payment of wages by electronic wage card unless the employer obtains the employee’s advance written consent to receive wages by electronic wage card.  When offering an employee the option of being paid wages by electronic wage card, the employer shall provide a written disclosure to the employee, in plain language, of all wage payment options.  The written disclosure shall state the terms and conditions of the electronic wage card option, including, but not limited to, a complete itemized list of all fees that may be deducted from the employee’s electronic wage card by the employer or third party; the methods available to the employee for checking his or her balances on the electronic wage card without cost; a statement as to whether third parties may assess additional fees; the means, other than an electronic wage card, by which an employee is entitled to receive payment of wages, salary or other compensation.  Consent to payment of wages by electronic wage card shall not be a condition of hire or of continued employment and must be obtained without intimidation, coercion, or fear of retaliation for refusal to accept an electronic wage card.

The department of labor and workforce development shall promulgate rules in accordance with this section, including but not limited to, creating a model notice on electronic wage card for employer use.