AUSTIN (1080 KRLD) - A bill that's passed the Texas House would set up a public, searchable database of employers who don't pay their workers.
House bill 48 by State Representative Mary Gonzales would pertain to employers who have disregarded multiple notices from the Texas Workforce Commission to make restitution.
As it stands now, this information now can only be gotten through an open records request.
Ana Gonzalez with Workers Defense Project says one out of five workers in Texas are a victim of wage theft. "And wage theft can be from not being paid at all, to being denied overtime, from not being paid the minimum wage."
Under Gonzalez' bill, the database would also include the employers who have a wage theft criminal conviction. Gonzales says this could be a useful tool for homeowners and businesses. "It also can become a tool for governmental entities. They want to make sure they spend tax dollars responsibly by doing business with vendors and contractors who follow the law and do right by their employees."
The bill has been referred to a senate committee.
A similar bill was heard by a senate committee last session.