HF 681 (LSB 2563YH (5) 91)

HOUSE FILE 681

BY  COOLING, WILBURN, JAMES, LEVIN, B. MEYER, KONFRST, MATSON, KRESSIG, BAGNIEWSKI, MADISON, CROKEN, R. JOHNSON, AMOS JR., SRINIVAS, EHLERT, OLSON, SCHOLTEN, WESSEL-KROESCHELL, and NIELSEN

A BILL FOR

An Act establishing a wage and hour division in the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 10A.106, subsection 1, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  The department is comprised of the administrative hearings division, labor services division, wage and hour division, workers’ compensation division, and other divisions as appropriate.
    Sec. 2.  Section 10A.202, subsection 2, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  The department is responsible for the administration of the laws of this state under chapters 88A, 88B, 89, 89A, 90A, 91A, 91C, 91D, 91E, 92, and such other labor-services duties assigned to the department or director.
    Sec. 3.  NEW SECTION.  10A.1000  Definition.
   As used in this subchapter, “division” means the wage and hour division of the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing.
    Sec. 4.  NEW SECTION.  10A.1001  Wage and hour division —— responsibilities.
   1.  The division is responsible for the administration of the laws of this state under chapters 91A, 91D, and 92, and such other duties assigned to the division or director. The executive head of the division is the director.
   2.  The division shall investigate reported violations of the laws it administers and engage in statutorily authorized enforcement activities against violators of such laws, including pursuing statutorily authorized penalties and remedies. The division shall prioritize such investigation and enforcement over referral of complaints to the federal department of labor or reliance on the federal department of labor to enforce federal laws governing similar subjects.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill establishes a wage and hour division in the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing. The division is responsible for the administration of the laws of Iowa under Code chapters 91A (wage payment collection), 91D (minimum wage), and 92 (child labor), and such other duties assigned to the division or director of the department.
   The bill requires the division to investigate reported violations of the laws it administers and engage in statutorily authorized enforcement activities against violators of such laws. The bill requires the division to prioritize such investigation and enforcement over referral of complaints to the federal department of labor or reliance on the federal department of labor to enforce federal laws governing similar subjects.