OLR Bill Analysis

HB 6185

AN ACT CONCERNING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF CERTAIN PERSONNEL FILES STATUTES.

SUMMARY:

This bill subjects any employer, officer, agent, or other person who violates the provisions of the Personnel Files Act to a $ 300 civil penalty for each violation. The Labor Department imposes the penalty and can ask the attorney general to initiate civil action to recover any unpaid penalties.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2009

BACKGROUND

Personnel Files Act

This state law imposes certain requirements on employers who keep employee personnel and medical records. The law requires the employee's written consent, in most cases, before an employer can disclose individually identifiable information other than the employee's dates of employment, job title, and wage or salary.

Also the employer must allow an employee access to personnel files and, in the case of medical files, allow access by a physician chosen or approved by the employee. The employers must maintain both types of files for a certain period after the worker stops working for that company and must abide by other statutory requirements.

COMMITTEE ACTION

Labor and Public Employees Committee

Joint Favorable