The proposed bill establishes the Nebraska Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which sets forth new requirements for employers concerning business closings and mass layoffs. It mandates that employers provide written notice to affected employees and the Department of Labor at least sixty days prior to such actions, while also defining key terms like "business closing," "mass layoff," and "employment loss." The bill allows for certain conditions under which the notice period may be waived or reduced, such as unforeseen business circumstances or natural disasters. The Department of Labor is designated to enforce the act and impose penalties for non-compliance.

Additionally, the bill amends section 48-2209 of the Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, changing the requirement for employers with non-English-speaking employees from providing a bilingual employee to making an interpreter available at the worksite for each shift. It specifies that employers must select Spanish-speaking interpreters from a list provided by the commissioner and choose interpreters for other languages who can effectively communicate employment terms. The bill also requires employers to employ a referral agent to assist non-English-speaking employees in accessing community services, with the agent's contact information made available in the employees' languages. The original section 48-2209 will be repealed, reflecting a significant update to language assistance regulations in the workplace.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 48-2209