Farmworkers could lose wage protections
Lawmakers move to raise the threshold for overtime
Colorado farmworkers could have to put in an additional eight hours a week before they start earning overtime pay under a proposal state lawmakers advanced on Tuesday.
Federal law doesn’t give any overtime protections to agricultural workers, but Colorado passed a law in 2021 that set the state’s overtime threshold at 48 hours for most agricultural workers, and 56 hours for “highly seasonal” employees who may take time off between seasons.
Now, as farmers are dealing with higher fertilizer and fuel costs related to the war with Iran, lawmakers are considering raising the threshold at which all agricultural workers start earning overtime to 56 hours per week.
Non-agricultural workers in Colorado earn overtime after 40 hours per week, but lawmakers killed a competing bill to set a 40-hour threshold for farmworkers. The 56-hour bill will get a final vote in the Senate today. If it passes, it would still have to pass the House and get the governor’s signature to take effect.
Need to Know
💨 Major air polluters have cut emissions faster than required under recent Colorado laws that specifically targeted heavy polluters. The achievements came without negative economic impacts like increased consumer costs and job losses that industry advocates had warned about. (Colorado Sun)
👮 Denver’s Public Safety Department agreed with recommendations to improve oversight of crime prevention and control efforts. The city auditor said the agency should improve training for members of a crime prevention and control commission, and should better monitor organizations that it pays to provide services intended to keep people out of jail and help them after they’re released. (Denver city auditor’s office)
⚖️ Denver is starting a “recovery court” to offer alternatives to prosecution for people struggling with substance misuse. The new court replaces and expands a previous program called Helping, Encouraging and Motivating Court, which allowed people charged with minor drug crimes to avoid prosecution if they completed certain requirements like drug testing and substance use treatment. (Denver county court, Denver district attorney)
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Something Good
🌻 Spring flowers are starting to bloom across Colorado, and I’m remembering a trip I took last year to the Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms in Littleton. They have an amazing collection of native plants and historic buildings, and they’ve been making upgrades including a new welcome center since I last went. I’m thinking about heading back sometime soon.