HLS 202ES-39 ORIGINAL
2020 Second Extraordinary Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 34
BY REPRESENTATIVE LANDRY
UNEMPLOYMENT COMP: Provides for an increase in the administrative penalties
assessed for the misclassification of employees (Item #24)
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 23:1711(G)(1), relative to unemployment compensation; to
3 provide for the classification of employees; to increase the administrative penalties
4 for the misclassification of employees; to provide relative to the failure to pay
5 contributions; to increase penalties; and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 23:1711(G)(1) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
8 ยง1711. False statements or representations; failure to file reports or maintain
9 records; duties of officers and agents; presumptive proof; penalties
10 * * *
11 G. Misclassification of employees as independent contractors.
12 (1)(a) Written warning. Administrative penalties.
13 (a) If the administrator determines, after an initial investigation, that an
14 employer, or any officer, agent, superintendent, foreman, or employee of the
15 employer, failed to properly classify an individual as an employee in accordance
16 with this Chapter, and failed to pay contributions required by this Chapter and the
17 failure was knowing or willful, but the failure was not knowing or willful, the
18 employer shall be issued a written warning as evidence that the employer has been
19 cited for a first offense of misclassification. Such warning shall constitute a
20 determination that any workers identified therein are employees, and all resulting
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HB NO. 34
1 contributions, interest and penalties shall be due, and shall be appealable as provided
2 in this Section. However, no administrative penalties shall be due. then, in addition
3 to any contributions, interest, and penalties otherwise due, the administrator may
4 assess an administrative penalty of not more than five thousand dollars.
5 (b) Administrative penalties. If the administrator determines, after the second
6 investigation, that an employer, or any officer, agent, superintendent, foreman, or
7 employee of the employer, after June 30, 2013, and subsequent to the issuance of a
8 written warning, failed to properly classify an individual as an employee and failed
9 to pay contributions in accordance with this Chapter, then, in addition to any
10 contributions, interest, and penalties otherwise due, the administrator may assess an
11 administrative penalty of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ten thousand
12 dollars per each such individual.
13 (c) Thereafter, any such After any subsequent investigation, any failure by
14 an employer to properly classify an individual as an employee and pay contributions
15 due shall be subject to an administrative penalty of not more than five hundred
16 twenty-five thousand dollars per each such individual. In determining the amount of
17 the administrative penalty imposed, the administrator shall consider factors including
18 previous violations by the employer, the seriousness of the violation, the good faith
19 of the employer, and the size of the employer's business.
20 (d)(i) If, after an employer has been issued a written warning and is
21 subsequently found, on two or more separate occasions, to have failed to properly
22 classify an individual as an employee, the employer may also be subject to an
23 additional fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand
24 dollars fifty thousand dollars, or imprisoned for not less than thirty days nor more
25 than ninety days, or both. For the purpose of this Subsection, each employee so
26 misclassified shall constitute a separate offense.
27 (ii) In addition to any penalty imposed pursuant to the provisions of
28 Subparagraphs (b) and (c) of this Paragraph, if any employer is subsequently found,
29 on two or more separate occasions, to have failed to properly classify an individual
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HB NO. 34
1 as an employee, the employer shall be ineligible to receive any tax rebate from the
2 state to which he was otherwise entitled.
3 (d)(e) No such determination shall be final or effective, and no resulting
4 administrative penalty shall be assessed, unless the administrator first provides the
5 employer with written notification by certified mail of the determination, including
6 the amount of the proposed contributions, interest, and penalties determined to be
7 due and of the opportunity to request a fair hearing, of which a record shall be made
8 within thirty days of the mailing of such the notice. The hearing request may be
9 made by mail, as evidenced by the official postmarked date, or by otherwise timely
10 delivering such appeal. If the employer does not request a hearing within the thirty-
11 day period the determination shall become final and effective, and the contributions,
12 interest, and penalties due shall be assessed.
13 * * *
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 34 Original 2020 Second Extraordinary Session Landry
Abstract: Increases the administrative penalties for employers who misclassify employees
and fail to pay unemployment insurance contributions.
Present law provides that when it is discovered that an employer has not properly classified
employees and has failed to pay contributions as requested by present law, that he shall
receive a written warning if there is evidence that his failure to properly classify and pay
contributions was not knowing or willful.
Proposed law deletes present law regarding the written warning and instead provides that
upon an initial investigation through which it is determined that an employer has knowingly
and willfully misclassified employees, in addition to any contributions, interest, and
penalties otherwise due, the administrator may assess an administrative penalty of up to
$5,000 per employee.
Present law provides that upon a second offense of misclassification, the administrator shall
assess a penalty of up to $250 for each misclassified employee, in addition to the
contributions, interest, and penalties owed.
Proposed law changes the penalty for a second offense from up to $250 to up to $10,000 per
misclassified employee in addition to the contributions, interest, and penalties owed.
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Present law provides that upon a subsequent offense of misclassification, the administrator
shall assess a penalty of up to $500 for each misclassified employee, in addition to
contributions, interest, and penalties previously owed.
Proposed law changes the penalty for a subsequent offense from up to $500 to up to $25,000
per misclassified employee in addition to the contributions, interest, and penalties owed.
Present law requires that the administrator, in determining the amount of penalties, consider
previous violations, the seriousness of the violation, the good faith of the employer, and the
size of the business. Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides that upon a subsequent offense of misclassification, the administrator
may also issue an additional fine between $100 and $1,000 or imprisonment between 30 and
90 days or both, for each misclassified employee, in addition to contributions, interest, and
penalties previously owed.
Proposed law changes the penalty for a subsequent offense from a fine between $100 and
$1,000 or imprisonment between 30 and 90 days or both to a fine up to $50,000 and
imprisonment between 30 and 90 days, per misclassified employee in addition to the
contributions, interest, and penalties owed.
Proposed law provides that in addition to any penalties assessed for a second or subsequent
offense, an employer is ineligible to receive any state tax rebates to which he is otherwise
entitled.
(Amends R.S. 23:1711(G)(1))
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