Sec. 306. Enforcement authority

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A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

In this subsection— the term employee means an employee described in subparagraph

(A)or

(B)of section 301(5) or a corresponding covered individual; and the term employer means an employer described in subclause

(I)or

(II)of section 301(6)(A)(i). To ensure compliance with the provisions of this title, or any regulation or order issued under this title, the Secretary shall have, subject to subparagraph (C), the investigative authority provided under section 11(a) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 211(a) ), with respect to employers, employees, and other individuals affected. An employer shall make, keep, and preserve records pertaining to compliance with this title in accordance with section 11(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 211(c) ) and in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary. The Secretary shall not require, under the authority of this paragraph, an employer to submit to the Secretary any books or records more than once during any 12-month period, unless the Secretary has reasonable cause to believe there may exist a violation of this title or any regulation or order issued pursuant to this title, or is investigating a charge pursuant to paragraph (4). For the purposes of any investigation provided for in this paragraph, the Secretary shall have the subpoena authority provided for under section 9 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 209 ). An action to recover the damages or equitable relief prescribed in subparagraph

(C)may be maintained against any employer in any Federal or State court of competent jurisdiction by one or more employees or individuals or their representative for and on behalf of— the employees or individuals; or the employees or individuals and others similarly situated. In such an action brought by one or more employees or individuals or their representative for and on behalf of the persons described in clause

(i)or

(ii)of subparagraph (A), to enforce the rights in this title, no court of competent jurisdiction may grant an employer’s motion to compel arbitration, under chapter 1 of title 9, United States Code, or any analogous State arbitration statute, of the claims involved. An employee’s right to bring an action on behalf of similarly situated employees to enforce such rights may not be subject to any private agreement that purports to require the employees to pursue claims on an individual basis. Any employer who violates section 305 (including a violation relating to rights provided under section 302) shall be liable to any employee or individual affected— for damages equal to— the amount of— any wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation denied or lost by reason of the violation; or in a case in which wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation have not been denied or lost, any actual monetary losses sustained as a direct result of the violation up to a sum equal to 56 hours of wages or salary for the employee or individual, or the specified period described in subsection (c)(2) or (d)(2) of section 302, or a combination of those hours and that period, as the case may be; the interest on the amount described in subclause

(I)calculated at the prevailing rate; and an additional amount as liquidated damages; and for such equitable relief as may be appropriate, including employment, reinstatement, and promotion. The court in an action under this paragraph shall, in addition to any judgment awarded to the plaintiff, allow a reasonable attorney’s fee, reasonable expert witness fees, and other costs of the action to be paid by the defendant. The Secretary shall receive, investigate, and attempt to resolve complaints of violations of section 305 (including a violation relating to rights provided under section 302) in the same manner that the Secretary receives, investigates, and attempts to resolve complaints of violations of sections 6 and 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 206 and 207). The Secretary may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to recover the damages described in paragraph (3)(C)(i). Any sums recovered by the Secretary pursuant to subparagraph

(B)shall be held in a special deposit account and shall be paid, on order of the Secretary, directly to each employee or individual affected. Any such sums not paid to an employee or individual affected because of inability to do so within a period of 3 years shall be deposited into the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts. Except as provided in subparagraph (B), an action may be brought under paragraph (3), (4), or

(6)not later than 2 years after the date of the last event constituting the alleged violation for which the action is brought. In the case of an action brought for a willful violation of section 305 (including a willful violation relating to rights provided under section 302), such action may be brought within 3 years of the date of the last event constituting the alleged violation for which such action is brought. In determining when an action is commenced under paragraph (3), (4), or

(6)for the purposes of this paragraph, it shall be considered to be commenced on the date when the complaint is filed. The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction, for cause shown, in an action brought by the Secretary— to restrain violations of section 305 (including a violation relating to rights provided under section 302), including the restraint of any withholding of payment of wages, salary, employment benefits, or other compensation, plus interest, found by the court to be due to employees or individuals eligible under this title; or to award such other equitable relief as may be appropriate, including employment, reinstatement, and promotion. The Solicitor of Labor may appear for and represent the Secretary on any litigation brought under paragraph

(4)or (6). Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, in the case of the Government Accountability Office, the authority of the Secretary of Labor under this subsection shall be exercised by the Comptroller General of the United States. The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 ( 2 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) including section 401(d) of such Act ( 2 U.S.C. 1401(d) ), to the Board (as defined in section 101 of that Act ( 2 U.S.C. 1301 )), the corresponding Federal agency described in that section 401(d), or any person, alleging a violation of subsection (a)(1) of section 202 of that Act ( 2 U.S.C. 1312 ) shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this title provides to that Board, the corresponding Federal agency, or any person, alleging an unlawful employment practice in violation of this title against an employee described in section 301(5)(C) or a corresponding covered individual. 5 of title 3 , United States Code The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in chapter 5 of title 3, United States Code, to the President, the Merit Systems Protection Board, or any person, alleging a violation of section 412(a)(1) of that title, shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this title provides to the President, that Board, or any person, respectively, alleging an unlawful employment practice in violation of this title against an employee described in section 301(5)(D) or a corresponding covered individual. 63 of title 5, United States Code The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in title 5, United States Code, to an employing agency, provided in chapter 12 of that title to the Merit Systems Protection Board, or provided in that title to any person, alleging a violation of chapter 63 of that title shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this title provides to that agency, that Board, or any person, respectively, alleging an unlawful employment practice in violation of this title against an employee described in section 301(5)(E) or a corresponding covered individual. A State’s receipt or use of Federal financial assistance for any program or activity of a State shall constitute a waiver of sovereign immunity, under the 11th Amendment to the Constitution or otherwise, to a suit brought by a covered individual of that program or activity under this title for equitable, legal, or other relief authorized under this title. An official of a State may be sued in the official capacity of the official by any covered individual who has complied with the procedures under subsection (a)(3), for injunctive relief that is authorized under this title. In such a suit the court may award to the prevailing party those costs authorized by section 722 of the Revised Statutes ( 42 U.S.C. 1988 ). With respect to a particular program or activity, paragraph

(1)applies to conduct occurring on or after the day, after the date of enactment of this Act, on which a State first receives or uses Federal financial assistance for that program or activity. In this subsection, the term program or activity has the meaning given the term in section 606 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000d–4a ).

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