BILL NUMBER: AB 1133	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Koretz

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2003

   An act to add Section 241 to the Labor Code, relating to
employment.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1133, as introduced, Koretz.  Employment.
   Under existing law, an employee or the Labor Commissioner may
bring an action against an employer for nonpayment of wages.  An
employee who brings this action is entitled to recover costs and
attorney's fees.
   This bill would provide that if a judgment for unpaid wages
remains unsatisfied for 6 months after the judgment becomes final,
the amount of the judgment doubles, and then doubles again for each
additional 6-month period the judgment remains unsatisfied.  An
employee or the Labor Commissioner may recover costs and attorney's
fees for enforcing a judgment under this provision.
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  no.
State-mandated local program:  no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 241 is added to the Labor Code, to read:
   241.  (a) If any judgment for nonpayment of wages entered against
an employer for a violation of any provision of this article remains
unsatisfied for a period of six months after the time to appeal
therefrom has expired or any appeal therefrom has been concluded, the
amount of the judgment is doubled.
   (b) Thereafter, for each additional six-month period the judgment
remains unsatisfied, the amount of the judgment is again doubled.
   (c) The court shall award costs and reasonable attorney's fees to
the judgment creditor or the Labor Commissioner as assignee of the
judgment creditor who enforces a judgment entered pursuant to this
section.