Article 12. Fair Wages Task Force

Section 330. Fair wages task force; definitions.

As used in this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(a) "Commissioner" shall mean the commissioner of labor;

(b) "Department" shall mean the department of labor; and

Section 331. Establishment of a fair wages task force.

The commissioner is authorized to establish a fair wages task force for the purpose of concentrating enforcement of the provisions of this chapter affecting employees in manufacturing, service and other industries where there may be a concentration of workers at risk of exploitation in New York state and otherwise exercising the duties and powers set forth in sections three hundred thirty-two and three hundred thirty-three of this article. Such task force shall be empowered to investigate and conduct inspections.

Section 332. Duties.

The task force is charged with the following duties:

1. to inspect manufacturing, service and other industries with respect to their respective employees, for compliance with the provisions of this chapter; and

2. to ensure, with respect to their respective employees, compliance by manufacturing, service and other industries with orders of, and assessments of civil penalties by the commissioner pursuant to this article.

Section 333. Powers.

Notwithstanding any other state or local law or regulation to the contrary, the task force shall have the following powers:

1. to inspect books, records and premises of employers, with respect to their respective employees to determine compliance with this chapter, including but not limited to, minimum wage, overtime compensation, unemployment insurance coverage and child labor; and

2. when in the course of inspections pursuant to subdivision one of this section, (a) to inspect books and records of employers with respect to their respective employees concerning the deduction and remittance to the proper authorities of all federal, state and local payroll taxes and to refer to the appropriate authorities any instance in which there is reasonable cause to believe that the payment of federal, state and local payroll taxes is being evaded; and

(b) to take action authorized by this chapter necessary to implement its provisions.

Section 334. Task force training; assistance of agencies.

1. The task force shall receive training to be provided by the state as is necessary to carry out the duties and powers of the task force.

2. The task force may request from any department, division, board, bureau, commission or other agency of the state, any political subdivision of the state, a public authority or any other governmental agency or instrumentality of the state, such assistance as shall enable it to properly carry out its powers and duties under the provisions of this section.