Colorado § 8-17-104 - Enforcement - violation - penalties - Colorado labor enforcement cash fund - creation.

§ 8-17-104. Enforcement - violation - penalties - Colorado labor enforcement cash fund - creation.

(1) The department of labor and employment shall enforce the requirements of this article in the event of a complaint alleging a potential violation of the requirements of this article. In connection with the department's duty to enforce the requirements of this article, the department shall receive complaints about potential violations of such requirements, initiate investigations based on such complaints, and impose penalties for the violation of the requirements of this article pursuant to subsection (2) of this section. The department shall not investigate or take any other action regarding a complaint filed more than ninety days after the project has been finalized.

(2) (a) After conducting an investigation of a complaint alleging a violation of the provisions of this article, if the department of labor and employment determines that a contractor has knowingly violated the requirements of this article by importing labor in excess of that permitted pursuant to section 8-17-101 (1), the executive director of the department of labor and employment or the executive director's designee shall impose a fine on such contractor as follows:

(I) For the first violation, five thousand dollars or an amount equal to one percent of the cost of the contract, whichever is less;

(II) For the second violation, ten thousand dollars or an amount equal to one percent of the cost of the contract, whichever is less; or

(III) For the third violation and any violation thereafter, twenty-five thousand dollars or an amount equal to one percent of the cost of the contract, whichever is less.

(b) When the department of labor and employment receives a complaint, it shall notify the contractor of the complaint, but shall commence the investigation only at the completion of the project. The department shall complete any investigation in response to a complaint within ninety days of the date that the department began the investigation. Compliance shall be measured over the entirety of the completed project.

(c) If the department of labor and employment has imposed three fines on a contractor pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (2) within five years and finds the violations to be egregious, the executive director of the department of labor and employment or the executive director's designee may initiate the process to debar the contractor pursuant to section 24-109-105, C.R.S.

(d) The executive director of the department of labor and employment may dismiss a complaint in his or her discretion if, after conducting an investigation pursuant to this section, the department determines that the circumstances that led to the complaint were the result of a minor paperwork violation.

(3) A contractor who is found to be in violation of the provisions of this article may appeal such finding to the executive director of the department of labor and employment. The executive director or the executive director's designee shall hold a hearing to review such notice or order and take final action in accordance with article 4 of title 24, C.R.S., and may either conduct the hearing personally or appoint an administrative law judge from the department of personnel. Final agency action is subject to judicial review pursuant to article 4 of title 24, C.R.S.

(4) The revenue collected from the fines imposed pursuant to subsection (2) of this section shall be transmitted to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the Colorado labor enforcement cash fund, which is hereby created. The general assembly shall make appropriations from the fund as necessary to cover the direct and indirect costs of the department of labor and employment in connection with the requirements of this article. All moneys not expended or encumbered and all interest earned on the investment or deposit of moneys in the fund remain in the fund and do not revert to the general fund or any other fund at the end of any fiscal year.

(5) The requirements of this article may not be enforced through a private right of action.

Source: L. 2013: Entire section added, (HB 13-1292), ch. 266, p. 1396, § 4, effective May 24.

Cross references: In 2013, this section was added by the "Keep Jobs In Colorado Act of 2013". For the short title, see section 1 of chapter 266, Session Laws of Colorado 2013.