House Bill No. 5384, also known as File No. 330, is a legislative proposal that mandates an increase in the number of wage and hour inspectors employed by the Labor Department. The bill stipulates that by October 1, 2024, the Labor Commissioner must employ a minimum of twenty-two wage and hour inspectors. This number is set to increase to at least forty-five inspectors for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and for each subsequent fiscal year. These inspectors are tasked with investigating and ascertaining the wages of individuals employed in any occupation within the state, as per section 31-59 of the general statutes.

The fiscal impact of the bill includes an additional cost to the Labor Department of $1,154,186 in the fiscal year 2025 and $3,521,000 in the fiscal year 2026. Additionally, there will be costs associated with fringe benefits managed by the State Comptroller, amounting to $401,646 in fiscal year 2025 and $1,283,906 in fiscal year 2026. The bill also includes provisions for the hiring of supervisory positions to manage the increased number of inspectors. The bill is effective upon passage and has received a Joint Favorable report from the Labor and Public Employees Committee with a unanimous vote of 12-0 on March 19, 2024.