Colorado’s Governor Hickenlooper has expressed his support of several bills passed by the legislature this session that if signed may have a big impact Colorado employers.
Wage Protection Act of 2014
Senate Bill 5 establishes an administrative procedure that allows the Colorado Division of Labor to decide claims for nonpayment of wages or compensation up to $7,500. The bill is applicable to wages earned on or after January 1, 2015. The Wage Protection Act also requires Colorado employers to keep payroll records, including the information contained in an employee’s itemized pay statement, for at least 3 years after payment of wages and to make those records available to the employee and the Division of Labor. Employers who violate the record retention requirement can be fined $250 per employee per month, up to a maximum of $7,500. Once signed, the law will go into effect January 1, 2015.
Individuals with Disabilities
Senate Bill 118 conforms state law definitions of the terms “disability” and “qualified individual with a disability” with the definitions of those terms under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It also provides special protection to and requires workplace accommodations for disabled individuals that use service dogs. The law is expected to go into effect on August 6, 2014.
Workers’ Compensation Physician Choice
House Bill 1383 will allow injured workers more choice of doctors under Colorado workers’ compensation law. Currently, an employer or workers’ compensation insurer must provide an injured employee with a list of at least 2 physicians or 2 corporate medical providers from which the employee may select his treatment provider. This bill expands that number to 4. If signed, the law will become effective on April 1, 2015.
We will be watching to see if the Governor signs the bills into law and for any labor law posting changes that might happen later this year.