House Bill No. 5387 seeks to improve transparency in wage and benefits disclosure for job advertisements by repealing and replacing Section 31-40z of the general statutes. The bill introduces new definitions for "benefits," "employer," "employee," "wages," and "wage range," and prohibits employers from restricting employees' rights to discuss or inquire about wages. It mandates that employers provide wage ranges and a general description of benefits in job advertisements and to current employees and applicants. The bill also establishes penalties for non-compliance, including statutory damages and attorney's fees, while clarifying that employers are not required to disclose wage amounts if they use alternative hiring methods.

Additionally, the bill allows employees or prospective employees to take legal action against employers for violations, with a two-year statute of limitations. It specifies that employers must provide wage and benefit information at certain times, including annually, and prohibits retaliation against individuals exercising their rights under the law. Notably, the bill removes a previous provision that prevented the disclosure of wages paid to employees. The changes will take effect on October 1, 2026, and are not anticipated to have any fiscal impact on the state or municipalities.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 31-40z
LAB Joint Favorable: 31-40z
File No. 249: 31-40z