During a recent government meeting, the introduction of Assembly Bill 2705 (AB 2705) was a focal point, aimed at addressing wage theft in public works projects, particularly within the construction industry. The bill seeks to rectify a significant inconsistency in the current legal framework regarding the labor commissioner's ability to recover unpaid wages for workers.

Currently, when violations of prevailing wage requirements are identified, the labor commissioner has 18 months to assess fines and penalties. However, the commissioner is limited to just 6 months to initiate legal action against the bonding company responsible for the project. This disparity creates a risk that workers may lose out on owed wages if the assessment process extends beyond the shorter legal timeframe.

The bill's proponent emphasized the need for legislative change to ensure that workers are not disadvantaged by these legal inconsistencies. By extending the time frame for the labor commissioner to pursue claims against bonding companies, AB 2705 aims to provide better protection for workers affected by wage theft, ensuring they receive the wages they are entitled to without the threat of losing their claims due to procedural limitations.