General Assembly Raised Bill No. 358 seeks to amend Section 31-57g of the general statutes to improve job security for service contract workers facing termination due to contract changes. The bill introduces new definitions, including "covered location," which refers to various facilities such as multifamily residential buildings and hospitals, and expands the definition of "service contract" to include those at these locations starting October 1, 2026. It mandates that contractors and awarding authorities provide at least fifteen days' notice of contract terminations to affected parties, including the exclusive bargaining representative of the contractor's employees. The bill also requires that successor contractors retain all employees or service workers from the terminated contractor for at least ninety days and provide written employment offers in their native language.

Additionally, the bill establishes a complaint process for employees who believe they have been wrongfully terminated, allowing them to file with the Labor Commissioner instead of pursuing legal action in Superior Court. The commissioner can award back pay, benefits, and reinstatement, while imposing civil penalties for violations. Notably, the bill removes previous provisions that allowed exceptions to retention requirements based on employee performance and eliminates the requirement for courts to award attorney fees to prevailing employees. Instead, it introduces penalties for contractors or awarding authorities who knowingly violate the provisions, with the act set to take effect on October 1, 2026. Overall, Raised Bill No. 358 aims to enhance protections and legal recourse for service workers affected by contract transitions.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 31-57g