The proposed General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5275 aims to establish a contractor's responsibility for unpaid wages owed to employees of subcontractors involved in construction contracts. Effective October 1, 2026, the bill defines "construction contract" to include agreements for construction, renovation, or rehabilitation projects, while excluding public works contracts and certain home improvement contracts. It stipulates that contractors will be jointly and severally liable for any unpaid wages due to employees of subcontractors for work performed under the construction contract. Additionally, contractors may include provisions in their contracts with subcontractors to address liability for unpaid wages, provided these do not diminish the rights of employees to pursue legal action.

The bill also amends Section 31-72 of the general statutes, which governs the recovery of unpaid wages. It introduces a new subsection that allows employees or their labor organizations to bring civil actions against either the subcontractor or the contractor for unpaid wages related to construction contracts. Employees must provide notice of the alleged violation to the contractor at least thirty days before initiating legal action, although prior notice for the same or similar violations is not required. The bill emphasizes that the definitions of "construction contract," "contractor," and "subcontractor" are consistent with those established in the new section of the act.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 31-72