Outside Section 18

Civil Remedies for Violations of Certain Labor Laws

SECTION 18.   (A) Subsection (f) of section 197B of chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following 3 paragraphs:
          (5) In addition to the other penalties under this subsection, the director of labor may issue a written warning or a civil citation for violations of this section or regulations under this section. Subsections (c) to (i), inclusive, of section 6F (1/2) of chapter 149 shall apply to these citations.
          (6) In addition to the cease-work order authority under this section, whenever the department of labor has reason to believe that any person, firm, corporation or other entity is engaging or is about to engage in a violation of sections 197 or this section, or the regulations under those sections, it may bring an action in the name of the commonwealth against that person, firm, corporation or other entity to restrain the violation by temporary restraining order or preliminary or permanent injunction. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 6F (1/2) of chapter 149 shall apply to these actions.
          (7) The director of labor may adopt regulations to carry out this section.

(B) Section 46R of chapter 140 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the first paragraph the following paragraph:-
          In addition to the penalties under the preceding paragraph, the commissioner may issue a written warning or a civil citation for violations of these sections. Subsections (c) to (i), inclusive, of section 6F (1/2) of chapter 149 shall apply to these citations. The director of labor may adopt regulations to carry out this section.

(C) Chapter 149 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 6F the following section:-
          Section 6F 1/2. (a) In addition to the cease and desist authority in section 6E and the criminal penalties in section 6F, whenever the commissioner has reason to believe that any person, firm, corporation or other entity is engaging or is about to engage in a violation of sections 6A to 6E, inclusive, or of any regulations under those sections, he may bring an action in the name of the commonwealth against such person, firm, corporation or other entity to restrain the violation by temporary restraining order or preliminary or permanent injunction. The action may be brought in the superior court of the county in which such person, firm, corporation or other entity resides or has his principal place of business, or the action may be brought in the superior court of Suffolk county with the consent of the parties or if the person, firm, corporation or other entity has no place of business within the commonwealth. If more than one person, firm, corporation or other entity is joined as a defendant, the action may be brought in the superior court of the county where any one defendant resides or has his principal place of business, or in Suffolk county. The court may issue temporary restraining orders or preliminary or permanent injunctions.
          (b) Any person, firm, corporation or other entity that violates an injunction issued under this section shall forfeit and pay to the commonwealth a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each such violation, where each day during which a person, firm, corporation or other entity fails to comply with sections 6Ato 6E, inclusive, shall be considered a separate violation. For the purposes of this section, the court issuing such an injunction shall retain jurisdiction, and the case shall be continued, and in such case the department may petition for recovery of this civil penalty.
          (c) In addition to the remedies under subsections (a) and (b), the commissioner may issue a written warning or a civil citation for violations of this chapter or regulations under this chapter. For each violation, a separate citation may be issued requiring any or all of the following: that the infraction be rectified or that a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 for each violation be paid to the commonwealth, within 21 days of the date of issuance of such citation.
          (d) Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, the maximum civil penalty that may be imposed upon any person, firm, corporation or other entity who has not previously been either criminally convicted of a violation of this chapter or issued a citation under this chapter, shall be not more than $2,500, except that in instances in which the commissioner determines that the person, firm, corporation or other entity lacked specific intent to violate this chapter, the maximum civil penalty for the person, firm, corporation or other entity that has not previously been either criminally convicted of a violation of this chapter or issued a citation under this chapter shall be not more than $1,000.
          (e) In determining the amount of each civil penalty, the department shall include, but not be limited to, the following considerations: the actual and potential impact on public health, safety and welfare and the environment of the failure to comply; whether the person, firm, corporation or other entity being assessed the civil penalty took steps to prevent noncompliance, to promptly come into compliance, and to remedy and mitigate whatever harm might have been done as a result of such noncompliance; whether the person, firm, corporation or other entity assessed the civil penalty has previously failed to comply with any regulation, order, license or approval issued or adopted by the department, or any law which the department has authority or responsibility to enforce; deterring future noncompliance; the financial condition of the person, firm, corporation or other entity being assessed the civil penalty; and the public interest.
          (f) Upon any failure to comply with the requirements set forth in a citation, the commissioner may order the cessation of all or the relevant activities of the person, firm, corporation or other entity, and shall, within 10 days of such order, schedule a hearing on the suspension or revocation of the license, under this chapter. Any license suspension or revocation under this section shall also apply to all affiliates of the person, firm, corporation or other entity as well as any successor company or corporation that the commissioner upon investigation, determines to not have a true independent existence apart from that of the violating person, firm, corporation or other entity.
          (g) Any person, firm, corporation or other entity aggrieved by any citation or order issued pursuant to this subsection may appeal it by filing a notice of appeal with the commissioner within 10 days after the receipt of the citation or order. Chapter 30A shall apply to such appeals.
          (h) In addition, no officer of any corporation which has failed to pay any civil penalty under this section may incorporate or serve as an officer in any corporation which did not have a legal existence as of the date that the penalty became due and owing to the commonwealth.
          (i) The commissioner may adopt regulations to carry out this section.
 
 

Summary:
This section allows the Director of Labor to impose civil penalties for violations of existing laws regulating employment agencies, workplace asbestos, and lead-paint inspectors and deleaders.