The bill amends the existing law regulating the payment of wages and fringe benefits to employees in Michigan, specifically focusing on the process for filing complaints regarding violations of this act. Key changes include the extension of the time frame for employees to file a complaint from within a certain period after the violation to "not later than 12 months after the alleged violation." Additionally, the bill mandates that the department provide bilingual complaint forms in areas with significant non-English-speaking employee populations. It also clarifies the timeline for the department to notify the employer and investigate the claim, requiring notification within a reasonable time after a complaint is filed and specifying that the department must inform both parties within 90 days if the dispute cannot be resolved informally.

Further amendments include the stipulation that the hearings officer must issue a determination within 30 days after the hearing concludes, which will then become the final department order upon receipt by the parties. The bill also allows for judicial review of the hearings officer's determination in accordance with the administrative procedures act and specifies that venue for appeals is proper in the circuit where the employee resides, where the employment occurred, or where the employer's principal place of business is located. Importantly, the bill includes a provision that allows the department to keep the identity of the employee confidential if requested during the complaint process.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 408.481