(a) If any employer has been convicted of a violation of any provision of this article, or if any judgment against an employer for nonpayment of wages remains unsatisfied for a period of 10 days after the time to appeal therefrom has expired, and no appeal therefrom is then pending, the Labor Commissioner may require the employer to deposit a bond in such sum as the Labor Commissioner may deem sufficient and adequate in the circumstances, to be approved by the Labor Commissioner. The bond shall be payable to the Labor Commissioner and shall be conditioned that the employer shall, for a definite future period, not exceeding two years, pay the employees in accordance with the provisions of this article, and shall be further conditioned upon the payment by the employer of any judgment which may be recovered against the employer pursuant to the provisions of this article.
(b) If an order to post a bond issued against an employer under this section remains unsatisfied for a period of 10 days after the time to appeal therefrom has expired, and no appeal from the order is then pending, the Labor Commissioner may require the employer to provide an accounting of assets of the employer, including a list of all bank accounts, accounts receivable, personal property, real property, automobiles or other vehicles, and any other assets, in a form and manner as prescribed by the Labor Commissioner. An employer shall provide an amended accounting of assets, if ordered by the Labor Commissioner to do so. If, within 10 days after a demand for an accounting of assets, made by certified or registered mail, the employer fails to provide an accounting, or if the employer fails to provide an amended accounting after receiving a demand by the Labor Commissioner to do so, the Labor Commissioner may bring an action in the name and on behalf of the people of the State of California against such employer to compel the employer to furnish the accounting. An employer who fails to provide an accounting as required by this subdivision shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
(c) If, within 10 days after demand for the bond, which demand may be made by mail, the employer fails to deposit the bond, the Labor Commissioner may bring an action in the name and on behalf of the people of the State of California against the employer in a court of competent jurisdiction to compel the employer to furnish the bond or to cease doing business until the employer has done so. The employer has the burden of proving either that the bond is unnecessary or that the amount demanded is excessive. If the court finds that there is just cause for requiring the bond, and that the bond is reasonably necessary or proper to secure prompt payment of the wages of the employees of the employer and the employer’s compliance with the provisions of this article, the court may enjoin the employer, whether an individual, partnership, corporation, company, trust, or association, and such other person or persons as may have been or may be concerned with or in any way participating in the failure to pay the wages resulting in the conviction or in the judgment, from doing business until the requirement is met, and make other and further orders appropriate to compel compliance with the requirement.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 655, Sec. 5. (AB 469) Effective January 1, 2012.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018