1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to employment; providing remedies and enforcement for the prevailing 
1.3 	wage law; amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 177.27, subdivisions 1, 4; 
1.4 	proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 177.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 177.27, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Examination of records. The commissioner may enter during 
1.8 	reasonable office hours or upon request and inspect the place of business or employment of 
1.9 	any employer of employees working in the state, to examine and inspect books, registers, 
1.10 	payrolls, and other records of any employer that in any way relate to wages, hours, and 
1.11 	other conditions of employment of any employees. The commissioner may transcribe any 
1.12 	or all of the books, registers, payrolls, and other records as the commissioner deems 
1.13 	necessary or appropriate and may question the employees to ascertain compliance with 
1.14 	sections 177.21 to 177.35 177.435. The commissioner may investigate wage claims or 
1.15 	complaints by an employee against an employer if the failure to pay a wage may violate 
1.16 	Minnesota law or an order or rule of the department. 

1.17 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 177.27, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
1.18 		Subd. 4.Compliance orders. The commissioner may issue an order requiring an 
1.19 	employer to comply with sections 177.21 to 177.35 177.435, 181.02, 181.03, 181.031, 
1.20 	181.032, 181.101, 181.11, 181.12, 181.13, 181.14, 181.145, 181.15, and 181.79, or with 
1.21 	any rule promulgated under section 177.28. The department shall serve the order upon 
1.22 	the employer or the employer's authorized representative in person or by certified mail 
1.23 	at the employer's place of business. An employer who wishes to contest the order must 
2.1 	file written notice of objection to the order with the commissioner within 15 calendar 
2.2 	days after being served with the order. A contested case proceeding must then be held 
2.3 	in accordance with sections 14.57 to 14.69. If, within 15 calendar days after being 
2.4 	served with the order, the employer fails to file a written notice of objection with the 
2.5 	commissioner, the order becomes a final order of the commissioner. 

2.6 	Sec. 3. [177.45] PRIVATE PARTY CIVIL ACTIONS.
2.7 		Subdivision 1.Civil action; damages. A person aggrieved by a violation of section 
2.8 	177.43, 177.435, or 177.44 may bring a civil action seeking redress directly to district 
2.9 	court. A contractor, subcontractor, or agent who is found to have violated any of those 
2.10 	sections is liable to the aggrieved party for compensatory damages in the amount of any 
2.11 	unpaid wages and benefits and for an additional equal amount as liquidated damages, in 
2.12 	addition to other appropriate relief, including, but not limited to, injunctive relief. An 
2.13 	action under this section may be maintained against any contractor, subcontractor, or agent 
2.14 	by any one or more employees. An agreement between the employee and employer to 
2.15 	work for less than the applicable wage is not a defense to the action.
2.16 		Subd. 2.District court jurisdiction. An action brought under subdivision 1 may be 
2.17 	filed in the district court of the county where a violation is alleged to have been committed, 
2.18 	where the contractor, subcontractor, or agent resides or has a principal place of business, 
2.19 	or any other court of competent jurisdiction.
2.20 		Subd. 3.Attorney fees and costs. In an action brought under subdivision 1, the 
2.21 	court shall order a contractor, subcontractor, or agent who is found to have committed 
2.22 	a violation to pay to the aggrieved party reasonable costs, disbursements, witness fees, 
2.23 	and attorney fees.