§ 28-15-9. Wage deductions exempt. (a) None of the sections of this chapter shall be applicable to, control, or prohibit the deduction from wages of an employee by an employer in accordance with the terms of a collective bargaining agreement entered into with the employer by a labor organization which is the authorized collective bargaining agent of a majority of the employees in a bargaining unit of employees in which the employee is employed; provided, that the amount deducted from the wages of the employee is to be: (1) used for the purpose of defraying the costs of legal services, counsel fees, or contribution to a prepaid legal services plan for those employees, their families, and their dependents, or (2) paid to pension, welfare, vacation, or annuity plans or an annuity plan or an insurance plan for accident, health, disability, or life coverage or similar plans, complete provisions for which are contained in a collective bargaining agreement or a supplemental agreement as provided in the agreement between the employer and the authorized bargaining agent of the employees and the plans are for the benefit of employees, their dependents, and beneficiaries in the bargaining unit, including full-time employees of the labor organization, provided it shall make the same payment for its employees to the plan or plans.

(b) None of the sections of this chapter shall be applicable to, control, or prohibit the deduction from wages of an employee by an employer in accordance with a written request made by the individual employee of:

(1) Trade union or craft dues or other obligations imposed by a collective bargaining contract;

(2) Subscriptions to a nonprofit hospital service corporation or nonprofit medical and/or surgical service corporation;

(3) Contributions to or for the use of a religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational corporation, trust, community chest, fund, or foundation;

(4) Payments for the purpose of purchasing obligations of the United States or stock of a corporation pursuant to an employee stock purchase plan;

(5) Contributions to a pension plan in which the employee is a participant not required by a collective bargaining agreement entered into between the authorized collective bargaining representative of an employee and his or her employer;

(6) Contributions to or for insurance or under an insurance plan for accident, health, or life coverage not required by a collective bargaining agreement entered into between the authorized collective bargaining representative of an employee and his or her employer;

(7) Amounts to be credited to a share, deposit, or loan account in any credit union; or

(8) Contributions, subscriptions, or payments of a similar nature not connected with past or present indebtedness.

History of Section. (G.L. 1938, ch. 292, § 9; P.L. 1947, ch. 1944, § 1; P.L. 1950, ch. 2631, § 1; P.L. 1954, ch. 3361, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 28-15-9; P.L. 1972, ch. 206, § 2; P.L. 1974, ch. 189, § 2.)