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RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO PASS A STATEWIDE WAGE THEFT LAW MODELED AFTER THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY WAGE THEFT ORDINANCE

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WHEREAS, wage theft is when workers are paid below the minimum wage, not paid for overtime, forced to work off the clock, have their time cards altered, are misclassified as independent contractors, or are simply not paid a wage for work performed; and
WHEREAS, a 2010 report by the Research Institute on Social and Economic Policy for the Florida Wage Theft Task Force analyzed documented wage violations in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties and found that from August, 2006 to August, 2010, there were 3,697 wage violations reported in the two counties worth about $3.6 million in unpaid wages; and
WHEREAS, in response to numerous instances of wage theft, this Board enacted Ordinance No. 10-16 on February 18, 2010 prohibiting wage theft and providing an administrative procedures and private causes of action for wage theft; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade was the first county in the state to adopt a countywide wage theft law; and
WHEREAS, between the time of the ordinance�s passage and September, 2011, $382,965� in lost wages were recovered from employers for workers in Miami-Dade County through conciliation and an additional $415,323 in lost wages were awarded through the hearing examiner process; and
WHEREAS, wage theft is a problem not limited to Miami-Dade County and occurs across the State of Florida; and
WHEREAS, based on the success of the Miami-Dade County wage theft ordinance, this Board would encourage the Florida Legislature to pass a statewide wage theft law based on the model of the Miami-Dade County wage theft ordinance,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the Florida Legislature to pass a statewide wage theft law modeled the Miami-Dade County wage theft ordinance.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit certified copies of the resolution to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker and the Chair and Members of the Miami-Dade State Legislative Delegation.
Section 3. Directs the County�s state lobbyists to advocate for the issue identified in Section 1 above, and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include amend the 2012 state legislative package to include this item.