815 Brazos Street, Suite 603 Austin, TX 78701 (512) 381-1111 www.TexasWatch.

org

April 18, 2017

Via electronic mail

Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development

Attn: The Honorable Craig Estes, Chair
Texas State Capitol
SHB 325
Austin, Texas 78701

Re: Written testimony in support of SB 462 by Sen. Garcia; accountability

for wage theft

Dear Chairman Estes and Members of the Committee:

Texas Watch is a non-partisan, non-profit citizen advocacy organization. Since 1998,

we have sought to protect the rights of consumers and ensure accountability. We
submit this written testimony today in support of SB 462 by Sen. Garcia
because this legislation promotes meaningful accountability for bad-acting
employers and increased transparency for consumers.

SB 462 creates meaningful accountability measures for employers who fail to pay
their employees wages. By creating an online database, the bill punishes these bad
actors in the open air of the free market, further incentivizing employees to pay
workers in full while providing meaningful accountability for law breakers. When the
market lacks the information to distinguish between good and bad actors, law-
abiding companies paying full wages are placed at a competitive disadvantage.

Additionally, the legislation supplies important consumer and employment

information to the public. Through the created database, workers can make
informed decisions about potential employers who may fail to pay their complete
wages. Consumers may also make empowered purchasing decisions informed by
whether companies treat their workers fairly.

In sum, SB 462 works on behalf of Texas workers and consumers, holding

bad-acting employers accountable through the free market and making
important consumer and employment information more transparent.

We respectfully ask you to promote meaningful accountability and

transparency by voting yes on SB 462.

Very respectfully,

cc: Members of the public and press

Victoria Tori Sommerman
Deputy Director

cc: Members of the public and press