Labor, industry conferees begin work on striking agreement

With only a few major differences between House and Senate language in the labor and industry policy bills, HF3947/SF3852*, conferees walked through side-by-sides and began discussions on Thursday toward approving a conference committee report.

Rep. Michael Nelson (DFL-Brooklyn Park) and Sen. Jennifer McEwen (DFL-Duluth) are the sponsors.

Conferees quickly adopted all the same and similar language provisions in the bill. Of the five differences, the committee adopted Senate language for two sections and House language on a third before going into recess.

The Senate-only language includes rules that would establish minimum nursing home employment standards to protect the health and welfare of nursing home workers, and to ensure that nursing home workers are properly trained about and fully informed of their rights by Nov. 1, 2024. Current language puts the deadline at Aug. 1, 2024.

The committee also adopted Senate language that would prohibit the Department of Labor from increasing the minimum wage rate based on inflation. The House version would have left this language alone.

The bill would add an oral fluid test as another valid and quicker means for an employer to test a job applicant for drugs or alcohol, using the House bill language.

An oral fluid test uses a saliva sample to measure the presence of drugs, alcohol, cannabis, or their metabolites with the same, or better, accuracy as existing lab programs. If the oral test comes back positive, inconclusive or invalid, the applicant must undergo further testing using the services of a laboratory within 48 hours of the oral fluid test to remain eligible for the job.

[MORE: Committee sends labor policy bill to the House Floor]
 

Rep. Andrew Myers (R-Tonka Bay) unsuccessfully offered four Republican amendments that would have:

• phased in a minimum wage rate hike;
• removed the section dealing with credit card gratuities;
• modified language to place up to a 2% fee on employees receiving credit card gratuities; and
• given employers up to five days to respond to employee records requests.

Differences yet to be ironed out include a Senate-only modification of an apprenticeship policy and a House-only provision that would prevent a company or partnership that provides services to a customer from restricting the customer from directly or indirectly soliciting or hiring one of its employees.