34:20-7.1 Determination of compliance; subpoena; stop-work order.

2. a. The Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development and any agent of the commissioner, upon receipt of a complaint or through a routine investigation for a violation of any wage and hour law or R.S.34:15-79, or a failure to meet obligations as provided in R.S.43:21-7 and R.S.43:21-14, is authorized to enter, during usual business hours, the place of business or employment of any employer of the individual to determine compliance with the wage and hour laws, R.S.34:15-79, R.S.43:21-7, or R.S.43:21-14, and for that purpose may examine payroll and other records and interview employees, call hearings, administer oaths, take testimony under oath and take depositions.

b. The commissioner may issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and the production of books and records. Any employer or agent of the employer who willfully fails to furnish time and wage records as required by law to the commissioner or agent of the commissioner upon request, or who refuses to admit the commissioner or agent to the place of employment of the employer, or who hinders or delays the commissioner or agent in the performance of duties in the enforcement of this section, may be fined not less than $1,000 and shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense. Each day of the failure to furnish the time and wage records to the commissioner or agent shall constitute a separate offense, and each day of refusal to admit, of hindering, or of delaying the commissioner or agent shall constitute a separate offense.

c. (1) If the commissioner determines, after either an initial determination as a result of an audit of a business or an investigation pursuant to subsection a. of this section, that an employer is in violation of any wage and hour law or of R.S.34:15-79, or has failed to meet obligations as provided in R.S.43:21-7 or R.S.43:21-14, the commissioner may issue a stop-work order against the employer requiring cessation of all business operations of the employer at the specific place of business or employment in which the violation exists. The stop-work order may be issued only against the employer found to be in violation or non-compliance. If a stop-work order has been issued against a subcontractor pursuant to this subsection, the general contractor shall retain the right to terminate the subcontractor from the project. The order shall be effective when served upon the employer at the place of business or, for a particular employer worksite, when served at that worksite. The order shall remain in effect until the commissioner issues an order releasing the stop-work order upon finding that the employer has come into compliance and has paid any penalty deemed to be satisfactory to the commissioner, or after the commissioner determines, in a hearing held pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection, that the employer did not commit the act on which the order was based. The stop-work order shall be effective against any successor entity engaged in the same or equivalent trade or activity that has one or more of the same principals or officers as the corporation, partnership or sole proprietorship against which the stop-work order was issued.

(2) An employer who is subject to a stop-work order shall have the right to appeal to the commissioner. The contractor may notify the Director of the Division of Wage and Hour Compliance of its request for an opportunity to be heard and contest the stop work order in writing within 72 hours of its receipt of the notification.

Within seven business days of receipt of the notification from the contractor, the director shall hold a hearing to allow the contractor to contest the issuance of a stop work order. The director shall permit the contractor to present evidence at the hearing. If the director fails to hold a hearing within seven business days of receipt of the notification from the contractor, an administrative law judge shall have the authority to release the stop-work order.

The director shall issue a written decision within five business days of the hearing either upholding or reversing the contractor's stop work order. The decision shall include the grounds for upholding or reversing the contractor's stop work order.

If the contractor disagrees with the written decision, the contractor may appeal the decision to the commissioner, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).

(3) As an alternative to issuing a stop-work order in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection, if the commissioner determines, after an investigation pursuant to subsection a. of this section, that an employer is in violation of R.S.34:15-79, the commissioner may provide and transfer all details and materials related to the investigation under this section to the Director of the Division of Workers' Compensation for any enforcement of penalties or stop-work orders the director determines are appropriate.

L.2019, c.158, s.2.