Danielson, Jaquez Lewis Applaud Signing of Bill to Combat Wage Theft, Empower Colorado Workers

New law will ensure workers are able to recover legally earned wages

DENVER, CO – Senators Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge, and Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Boulder, celebrated the signing of SB22-161 by Governor Jared Polis that will modernize Colorado's wage enforcement procedures and ensure Colorado workers are able to recover legally earned wages. 

“Wage theft is far too prevalent in Colorado, and it often hits working families the hardest,” said Danielson. “It’s essential that we support the folks who work hard to keep Colorado’s economy running. This law will ensure workers receive the full wages they have earned.”

“Right now, many workers are victims of wage theft without even realizing it,” Jaquez Lewis said. “With this law, we’re empowering the Attorney General and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment to collaborate and combat cases of wage theft. We must make sure workers receive the wages they are rightfully owed, and that violators are held accountable.”

The law empowers the Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) to facilitate the recovery of unpaid wages in wage theft cases by expanding investigatory authority to locate violators and streamlining enforcement of CDLE determinations in court. It also authorizes the Attorney General to partner with CDLE to investigate cases of wage theft and worker misclassification.