SB279

Senate Bill 279 amends the Arkansas Minimum Wage Act to strengthen the enforcement powers of the Director of the Division of Labor regarding unpaid wage claims. The bill clarifies the investigation process for wage and hour complaints and establishes specific timelines for assessment periods. It grants the Director authority to extend the assessment period if a violation of law hinders an investigation. Additionally, the bill mandates that the filing of a complaint tolls the statute of limitations until a final order is issued. It also sets a one-year window from the final order for the Director to initiate legal action to recover wages, liquidated damages, or civil penalties. Finally, the bill allows for the inclusion of additional employees in administrative proceedings if previous non-compliance prevented the discovery of their valid claims.