Bill > H1810

This bill creates a new legal mechanism called a "Construction Industry Private Attorney General Action" to address wage theft in the construction industry. The legislation allows certain "Interested Parties" (including construction employers, labor organizations, trustees, and affected employees) to file lawsuits on behalf of the Commonwealth when a construction employer fails to pay proper wages. The bill recognizes that construction workers often face challenges in recovering unpaid wages due to the industry's complex workforce and project structures, and that wage theft creates unfair competitive advantages for non-compliant employers. Under this law, a successful plaintiff can recover treble damages for affected employees, with 20% of the total award going to a new wage enforcement fund managed by the Attorney General. The Attorney General has the right to intervene in these cases at any time and must be notified within 10 business days of a lawsuit being filed. The bill broadly defines the construction industry to include various types of construction-related work and sets specific criteria for who can bring such an action, with the goal of promoting fair labor practices, protecting workers, and ensuring honest competition among construction employers.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1810