03/12/2024
March 12, 2024 Labor and Public Employees Committee, SB 413
Public Hearing Testimony
Danté Bartolomeo
Commissioner
Department of Labor
Labor and Public Employees Committee
March 12, 2024
Good Morning Senator Kushner, Representative Sanchez, Senator Sampson, Representative Weir and members of the Labor and Public Employees Committee. Thank you for the opportunity to provide you with written testimony regarding SB 413: AN ACT CONCERNING PREDICTABLE SCHEDULING. My name is Danté Bartolomeo, and I am the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Labor.
HB 413 would prohibit on-call shift scheduling in certain industries and occupations, therefore providing certainty and reliability to workers who have personal responsibilities outside of their employment. This bill covers a large population of employers and employees in the wholesale and retail sale industry, as well as occupations within the restaurant industry, nursing or residential care facilities, and hotel, motel and resort facilities.
In addition, while HB 413 establishes a private right of action, the agency still has responsibilities under this bill. If this is codified in Title 31, CT Department of Labor’s Wage and Workplace Standards Division (WWSD) would be required to issue civil penalties for any violation.
Therefore, HB 413 would greatly increase the number of complaints and resulting investigations required of WWSD, an already overburdened division, necessitating a fiscal impact on this legislation.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide the Committee with this written testimony. My staff and I are available to answer any questions that you may have regarding SB 413.
Connecticut Department of Labor • www.ct.gov/dol
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer