290.010.  What constitutes a day's labor. — From and after the first day of May, in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, the period of eight hours shall be and constitute a legal day's work; but nothing in this section shall be so construed as to prevent parties to any contract for work, services or labor from agreeing upon a longer or shorter time.  This section shall not apply to persons hired or employed by the month, nor to laborers or farm hands in the service of farmers or others engaged in agriculture.

  290.020.  Limitation of working hours in certain industries, exception by consent of worker. — It is hereby declared to be unlawful for any person, company or corporation engaged in carrying on any kind of mining, mechanical, chemical manufacturing or smelting business, to work their employees in any mill or mills, or plants, while engaged in crushing rocks and mine products, containing mineral or ores, or engaged in separating the minerals or ores from rock and such combination with which the mineral or ores are mixed, or reducing or roasting, or refining or smelting minerals or ores, from and after the time such rocks, or combination of rocks and mine products, or minerals or ores are taken out of the mines, at such labor or industry, for a period of time longer than eight hours in a day of twenty-four hours, without their consent, and it is hereby declared that eight hours shall constitute a day of employment, for all laborers, or employees, engaged in the kind of labor or industry aforesaid.

  290.030.  Penalty. — Any person or persons, company or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions of section 290.020 shall, on conviction, be fined in a sum not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than five hundred dollars.

  290.080.  Employees paid semimonthly, exception — statement of deductions — violation, misdemeanor. — All corporations doing business in this state, and all persons operating railroads or railroad shops in this state, shall pay the wages and salaries of their employees as often as semimonthly, within sixteen days of the close of each payroll period; provided, however, that executive, administrative and professional employees, and sales people and other employees compensated in whole or in part on a commission basis, at the option of such employers, may be paid their salaries or commissions monthly.  Such corporations and persons either as a part of the check, draft or other voucher paying the wages or separately, shall furnish the employee at least once a month a statement showing the total amount of deductions for the period.  Any corporation or person violating this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not less than fifty dollars, nor more than five hundred dollars, for each offense.

  290.090.  Factory employees paid semimonthly — amount withheld — penalty. — The employees of the operators of all manufactories, including plate glass manufactories, operated within this state shall be regularly paid in full of all wages due them at least once in every fifteen days, in lawful money, and at no pay day shall there be withheld from the earnings of any employee any sum to exceed the amount due him for his labor for five days next preceding any such pay day.  Any such operator who fails and refuses to pay his employees, their agents, assigns or anyone duly authorized to collect such wages, as in this section provided, shall become immediately liable to any such employee, his agents or assigns for an amount double the sum due such employee at the time of such failure to pay the wages due, to be recovered by civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction within this state, and no employee, within the meaning of this section, shall be deemed to have waived any right accruing to him under this section by any contract he may make contrary to the provisions hereof.

  290.095.  Wage subsidies, bid supplements, and rebates for employment prohibited, when — violation, penalty. — 1.  No contractor or subcontractor may directly or indirectly receive a wage subsidy, bid supplement, or rebate for employment on a public works project if such wage subsidy, bid supplement, or rebate has the effect of reducing the wage rate paid by the employer on a given occupational title below the wage rate required to be paid for such project pursuant to sections 290.210 to 290.340.

  2.  In the event a wage subsidy, bid supplement, or rebate is lawfully provided or received under subsection 1 of this section, the entity receiving such subsidy, supplement, or rebate shall report the date and amount of such subsidy, supplement, or rebate to the public body within thirty days of receipt of payment.  This disclosure report shall be a matter of public record under chapter 610.

  3.  Any employer in violation of this section shall owe to the public body double the dollar amount per hour that the wage subsidy, bid supplement, or rebate has reduced the wage rate paid by the employer below the wage rate required to be paid for such project pursuant to sections 290.210 to 290.340 for each hour that work was performed.  It shall be the duty of the department to calculate the dollar amount owed to the public body under this section.

  290.100.  Thirty days' notice of reduction of wages, how. — Any railway, mining, express, telegraph, manufacturing or other company or corporation doing business in this state, and desiring to reduce the wages of its employees, or any of them, shall give to the employees to be affected thereby thirty days' notice thereof.  Such notice may be given by posting a written or printed handbill, specifying the class of employees whose wages are to be reduced and the amount of the reduction, in a conspicuous place in or about the shops, station, office, depot or other place where said employees may be at work, or by mailing each employee a copy of said notice or handbill, and such company or corporation violating any of the provisions of this section shall forfeit and pay each party affected thereby the sum of fifty dollars, to be recovered by civil action in the name of the injured party, with costs, before any court of competent jurisdiction.

  290.110.  Payment due discharged employee — exceptions — penalty for delay. — Whenever any person, firm or corporation doing business in this state shall discharge, with or without cause, or refuse to further employ any servant or employee thereof, the unpaid wages of the servant or employee then earned at the contract rate, without abatement or deduction, shall be and become due and payable on the day of the discharge or refusal to longer employ and the servant or employee may request in writing of his foreman or the keeper of his time to have the money due him, or a valid check therefor, sent to any station or office where a regular agent is kept; and if the money or a valid check therefor, does not reach the station or office within seven days from the date it is so requested, then as a penalty for such nonpayment the wages of the servant or employee shall continue from the date of the discharge or refusal to further employ, at the same rate until paid; provided, such wages shall not continue more than sixty days.  This section shall not apply in the case of an employee whose remuneration for work is based primarily on commissions and whose duties include collection of accounts, care of a stock or merchandise and similar activities and where an audit is necessary or customary in order to determine the net amount due.

  290.120.  Employee not entitled to benefits, when. — No such servant or employee who secretes or absents himself to avoid payment to him, or refuses to receive the same when fully tendered, shall be entitled to any benefit under sections 290.110 and 290.120 for such time as he so avoids payment.

  290.130.  Action by employees for breach of employment contract. — Any such servant or employee whose employment is for a definite period of time, and who is discharged without cause before the expiration of such time, may, in addition to the penalty prescribed by this law, have an action against any such employer for any damages he may have sustained by reason of such wrongful discharge, and such action may be joined with an action for unpaid wages and penalty.

  290.140.  Letter of dismissal, when — failure to issue, damages — punitive damages, limitations. — 1.  Whenever any employee of any corporation doing business in this state and which employs seven or more employees, who shall have been in the service of said corporation for a period of at least ninety days, shall be discharged or voluntarily quit the service of such corporation and who thereafter within a reasonable period of time, but not later than one year following the date the employee was discharged or voluntarily quit, requests in writing by certified mail to the superintendent, manager or registered agent of said corporation, with specific reference to the statute, it shall be the duty of the superintendent or manager of said corporation to issue to such employee, within forty-five days after the receipt of such request, a letter, duly signed by such superintendent or manager, setting forth the nature and character of service rendered by such employee to such corporation and the duration thereof, and truly stating for what cause, if any, such employee was discharged or voluntarily quit such service.

  2.  Any corporation which violates the provisions of subsection 1 of this section shall be liable for compensatory but not punitive damages but in the event that the evidence establishes that the employer did not issue the requested letter, said employer may be liable for nominal and punitive damages; but no award of punitive damages under this section shall be based upon the content of any such letter.

  290.145.  Discrimination, refusal to hire or discharge employee for alcohol or tobacco use not during working hours, prohibited, exception — not cause for legal actions. — It shall be an improper employment practice for an employer to refuse to hire, or to discharge, any individual, or to otherwise disadvantage any individual, with respect to compensation, terms or conditions of employment because the individual uses lawful alcohol or tobacco products off the premises of the employer during hours such individual is not working for the employer, unless such use interferes with the duties and performance of the employee, the employee's coworkers, or the overall operation of the employer's business; except that, nothing in this section shall prohibit an employer from providing or contracting for health insurance benefits at a reduced premium rate or at a reduced deductible level for employees who do not smoke or use tobacco products.  Religious organizations and church-operated institutions, and not-for-profit organizations whose principal business is health care promotion shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.  The provisions of this section shall not be deemed to create a cause of action for injunctive relief, damages or other relief.

  290.152.  Employer response to request for information about current or former employee, contents, requirements, civil immunity, when. — 1.  As used in this section, the following terms shall mean:

  (1)  "Employer", any individual, organization, partnership, political subdivision, corporation or other legal entity which has or had in the entity's employ one or more individuals performing services for the entity within this state;

  (2) "Prospective employer", any employer, as defined in this subsection, to which an individual has made application for employment, either oral or written, or forwarded a resume or other correspondence expressing an interest in employment.

  2.  An employer may:

  (1)  Respond in writing to a written request concerning a current or former employee from an entity or person which the employer reasonably believes to be a prospective employer of such employee; and

  (2)  Disclose the nature and character of service rendered by such employee to such employer and the duration thereof; and

  (3)  Truly state for what cause, if any, such employee was discharged or voluntarily quit such service.  The provisions of this section shall apply regardless of whether the employee becomes employed by the prospective employer prior to receipt of the former employer's written response.  The information provided pursuant to this section shall be consistent with the content of any service letter provided pursuant to section 290.140 for the same employee.

  3.  The employer shall send a copy of any letter provided pursuant to subsection 2 of this section to the current employee or former employee at the employee's last known address.  The current or former employee may request from the employer a copy of the letter provided pursuant to subsection 2 of this section for up to one year following the date of such letter.

  4.  For purposes of this section, an employer shall be immune from civil liability for any response made pursuant to this section or for any consequences of such response, unless such response was false and made with knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard for whether such response was true or false.

  5.  Any employer who violates the provisions of subsection 2 of this section shall be liable for compensatory damages but not punitive damages.

  6.  Any letter issued pursuant to this section shall not be admitted as evidence in an unemployment compensation claim.

  290.210.  Definitions. — As used in sections 290.210 to 290.340, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms shall mean:

  (1)  "Collective bargaining agreement", any written agreement or understanding between an employer or employer association and a labor organization or union which is the exclusive bargaining representative of the employer's or employer association's employees pursuant to the terms of the National Labor Relations Act and which agreement or understanding or predecessor agreement or understanding has been used to determine an occupational title wage rate;

  (2)  "Construction", construction, reconstruction, improvement, enlargement, alteration, painting and decorating, or major repair;

  (3)  "Department", the department of labor and industrial relations;

  (4)  "Labor organization" or "union", any entity which has been designated pursuant to the terms of the National Labor Relations Act as the exclusive bargaining representative of employees of employers engaged in the construction industry, which entity or affiliated entity has ever had a collective bargaining agreement which determined an occupational title wage rate;

  (5)  "Locality", the county where the physical work upon public works is performed;

  (6)  "Maintenance work", the repair, but not the replacement, of existing facilities when the size, type or extent of the existing facilities is not thereby changed or increased;

  (7)  "Prevailing hourly rate of wages" or "prevailing wage rate", the wages paid generally, to workers engaged in work of a similar character in the locality in which the public works is being performed, including the basic hourly rate of pay and the amount of the rate of contributions irrevocably made to a fund, plan or program, and the amount of the rate of costs to the contractor or subcontractor which may be reasonably anticipated in providing benefits to workers and mechanics pursuant to an enforceable commitment to carry out a financially responsible plan or program which was communicated in writing to the workmen affected, for medical or hospital care, pensions on retirement or death, compensation for injuries or illness resulting from occupational activity, or insurance to provide any of the foregoing, for unemployment benefits, life insurance, disability and sickness insurance, accident insurance, for vacation and holiday pay, for defraying costs of apprenticeship or other similar programs, or for other bona fide fringe benefits, but only where the contractor or subcontractor is not required by other federal or state law to provide any of the benefits; provided, that the obligation of a contractor or subcontractor to make payment in accordance with the prevailing wage determinations of the department, insofar as sections 290.210 to 290.340 are concerned, may be discharged by the making of payments in cash, by the making of irrevocable contributions by the assumption of an enforceable commitment to bear the costs of a plan or program as provided herein, or any combination thereof, where the aggregate of such payments, contributions and costs is not less than the rate of pay plus the other amounts as provided herein;

  (8)  "Public body", the state of Missouri or any officer, official, authority, board or commission of the state, or other political subdivision thereof, or any institution supported in whole or in part by public funds;

  (9)  "Public works", all fixed works constructed for public use or benefit or paid for wholly or in part out of public funds.  It also includes any work done directly by any public utility company when performed by it pursuant to the order of the public service commission or other public authority whether or not it be done under public supervision or direction or paid for wholly or in part out of public funds when let to contract by said utility.  It does not include any work done for or by any drainage or levee district;

  (10)  "Public works contracting minimum wage", the wage rate determined by the department pursuant to section 290.257;

  (11)  "Workers", laborers and mechanics.

  290.220.  Policy declared. — It is hereby declared to be the policy of the state of Missouri that a wage of no less than the prevailing hourly rate of wages for work of a similar character in the locality in which the work is performed or the public works contracting minimum wage, whichever is applicable, shall be paid to all workers employed by or on behalf of any public body engaged in public works, exclusive of maintenance work.

  290.230.  Prevailing wage rates required on construction of public works — who is deemed employed upon public works — inapplicability of prevailing wage, when. — 1.  (1)  Except as otherwise provided in this section, not less than the prevailing hourly rate of wages for work of a similar character in the locality in which the work is performed or the public works contracting minimum wage, whichever is applicable, shall be paid to all workers employed by or on behalf of any public body engaged in the construction of public works, exclusive of maintenance work.

  (2)  For all work performed on a Sunday or a holiday, not less than twice the prevailing hourly rate of wages for work of a similar character in the locality in which the work is performed or the public works contracting minimum wage, whichever is applicable, shall be paid to all workers employed by or on behalf of any public body engaged in the construction of public works, exclusive of maintenance work.  For purposes of this subdivision, "holiday" shall include each of the following:

  (a)  January first;

  (b)  The last Monday in May;

  (c)  July fourth;

  (d)  The first Monday in September;

  (e)  November eleventh;

  (f)  The fourth Thursday in November; and

  (g)  December twenty-fifth;

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  (3)  For all overtime work performed, not less than one and one-half the prevailing hourly rate of wages for work of a similar character in the locality in which the work is performed or the public works contracting minimum wage, whichever is applicable, shall be paid to all workers employed by or on behalf of any public body engaged in the construction of public works, exclusive of maintenance work or contractual obligation.  For purposes of this subdivision, "overtime work" shall include work that exceeds ten hours in one day and work in excess of forty hours in one calendar week; and

  (4)  A thirty-minute lunch period on each calendar day shall be allowed for each worker on a public works project, provided that such time shall not be considered as time worked.

  2.  Only workers that are directly employed by contractors or subcontractors in actual construction work on the site of the building or construction job shall be deemed to be employed upon public works.

  3.  Any worker who agrees in writing to volunteer his or her labor without pay shall not be deemed to be employed upon public works, and shall not be entitled to the wage rates required pursuant to sections 290.210 to 290.340.  For the purposes of this section, the term "worker who agrees in writing to volunteer his or her labor without pay" shall mean a worker who volunteers his or her labor without any promise of benefit or remuneration for such voluntary activity, and who is not a prisoner in any jail or prison facility and who is not performing community service pursuant to disposition of a criminal case against him or her, and is not otherwise employed for compensation at any time in the construction or maintenance work on the same public works for which the worker is a volunteer.  Under no circumstances may an employer or a public body force, compel or otherwise intimidate a worker into performing work otherwise paid at a prevailing wage rate or at a public works contracting minimum wage rate as a volunteer.

  4.  When the hauling of materials or equipment includes some phase of construction other than the mere transportation to the site of the construction, workers engaged in this dual capacity shall be deemed employed directly on public works.

  5.  (1)  The provisions of sections 290.210 to 290.340 shall not apply to the construction of public works for which either the engineer's estimate or the bid accepted by the public body for the total project cost is in the amount of seventy-five thousand dollars or less.

  (2)  The total project cost shall be based upon the entire project and not individual projects within a larger project.

  (3)  The total project cost shall include the value of work performed on the project by every person paid by a contractor or subcontractor for that person's work on the project.  The total project cost shall additionally include all materials and supplies purchased for the project.

  6.  A public body shall not divide a project into multiple contracts for the purpose of lowering the total project cost below the threshold described in subsection 5 of this section.

  7.  For any public works project for which either the engineer's estimate or the bid accepted by the public body for the total project cost is in the amount of seventy-five thousand dollars or less that becomes subject to a change order that increases the total project cost in excess of seventy-five thousand dollars, the provisions of sections 290.210 to 290.340 shall apply only to that portion of the project that was in excess of seventy-five thousand dollars.

  8.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, for the purposes of construction of public works for which either the engineer's estimate or the bid accepted by the public body for the total project cost is in the amount of ten thousand dollars or less for all occupational titles, public bodies shall be exempt from any law requiring the use of competitive bids.

  290.235.  On-the-job training periods, use of entry-level workers and apprentices — wages — aggregate limit. — 1.  Employers may use entry-level workers and federally registered apprentices for on-the-job training periods.  The wage rate for on-the-job training workers shall be equal to fifty percent of the applicable wage rate for a journeyman worker under the appropriate occupational title for a specific locality.

  2.  The combined total of entry-level workers and federally registered apprentices shall not exceed a one-to-one ratio with the number of journeyman workers in any occupational title on a public works project subject to sections 290.210 to 290.340.

  290.240.  Department inquiry into complaints — rulemaking authority. — 1.  The department shall inquire diligently into complaints regarding any violation of sections 290.210 to 290.340, shall institute actions for penalties herein prescribed, and shall enforce generally the provisions of sections 290.210 to 290.340.  Complaints regarding any violation of sections 290.210 to 290.340 shall be filed with the department.  The following interested parties are the only parties allowed to file such complaints with the department:

  (1)  Any decision-making public servant for a public body for which a public works project is being performed, if the complaint is against the contractor or subcontractor for the project;

  (2)  Any contractor, if the complaint is against his or her subcontractor for work performed on behalf of a public body;

  (3)  Any subcontractor, if the complaint is against his or her contractor for work performed on behalf of a public body; and

  (4)  Any worker who alleges a violation of his or her rights under sections 290.210 to 290.340.

  2.  The department may establish rules and regulations for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of sections 290.210 to 290.340.

  290.250.  Applicable wage rates, incorporation into contracts — failure to pay, penalty — complaints of violation, public body or prime contractor to withhold payment — determination of a violation, investigation required — employer's right to dispute — enforcement proceeding permitted, when. — 1.  Every public body authorized to contract for or construct public works before advertising for bids or undertaking such construction shall request the department to determine the applicable wage rates in the locality where the work is to be performed.  The department shall determine the applicable wage rates in the locality in which the work is to be performed as provided in section 290.257.  Such determination or schedule of the wage rates shall be attached to and made a part of the specifications for the work.  The public body shall then specify in the resolution or ordinance and in the call for bids for the contract the wage rates in the locality needed to execute the contract.  The contractor to whom the contract is awarded and any subcontractor under the contractor shall pay not less than the specified wage rates to all workers employed by them in the execution of the contract.  The public body awarding the contract shall cause to be inserted in the contract a stipulation to the effect that not less than the specified wage rates shall be paid to all workers performing work under the contract.  The contractor shall forfeit as a penalty to the public body on whose behalf the contract is made or awarded one hundred dollars for each worker employed, for each calendar day, or portion thereof, such worker is paid less than the specified wage rates for any work done under the contract, by the contractor or by any subcontractor under the contractor, and the public body awarding the contract shall cause to be inserted in the contract a stipulation to this effect.  The public body awarding the contract, and its agents and officers, shall take cognizance of all complaints of all violations of the provisions of sections 290.210 to 290.340 committed in the course of the execution of the contract, and, when making payments to the contractor becoming due under the contract, shall withhold and retain therefrom all sums and amounts due and owing as a result of any violation of sections 290.210 to 290.340.  Any contractor may withhold from any subcontractor sufficient sums to cover any penalties withheld by the awarding public body on account of the subcontractor's failure to comply with the terms of sections 290.210 to 290.340, and if payment has already been made, the contractor may recover from the subcontractor the amount of the penalty in a suit at law.

  2.  In determining whether a violation of sections 290.210 to 290.340 has occurred, and whether a penalty shall be imposed pursuant to subsection 1 of this section, the department shall investigate any complaint made by an interested party listed under section 290.240.  Upon completing such investigation, the department shall notify the employer of its findings.  If the department concludes that a violation of sections 290.210 to 290.340 has occurred and a penalty may be due, the department shall notify the employer of such finding by providing a notice of penalty to the employer.  Such penalty shall not be due until forty-five days after the date of the notice of the penalty.

  3.  The employer shall have the right to dispute such notice of penalty in writing to the department within forty-five days of the date of the notice.  Upon receipt of this written notice of dispute, the department shall notify the employer of the right to resolve such dispute through arbitration.  The state and the employer shall submit to an arbitration process to be established by the department by rule, and in conformance with the guidelines and rules of the American Arbitration Association or other arbitration process mutually agreed upon by the employer and the state.  If at any time prior to the department pursuing an enforcement action to enforce the monetary penalty provisions of subsection 1 of this section against the employer, the employer pays the back wages as determined by either the department or the arbitrator, the department shall be precluded from initiating any enforcement action to impose the monetary penalty provisions of subsection 1 of this section.

  4.  If the employer fails to pay all wages due as determined by the arbitrator within forty-five days following the conclusion of the arbitration process, or if the employer fails to exercise the right to seek arbitration, the department may then pursue an enforcement action to enforce the monetary penalty provisions of subsection 1 of this section against the employer.  If the court orders payment of the penalties as prescribed in subsection 1 of this section, the department shall be entitled to recover its actual cost of enforcement from such penalty amount.

  5.  Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as precluding an action for enforcement filed by an aggrieved employee as otherwise provided in law.

  290.257.  Determination of prevailing wage — annual calculation — final determination, when — occupational titles, applicability. — 1. (1)  In determining the prevailing wage rate, the department shall accept and consider information submitted in either paper or electronic format regarding local wage rates for construction projects that occurred during the year preceding the annual wage order to be issued, provided that information regarding local wage rates for entry-level workers and federally registered apprentices shall not be considered.

  (2)  (a)  The prevailing wage rate for each occupational title shall be equal to the weighted average wage for that occupational title.

  (b)  For purposes of this subdivision, the following terms shall mean:

  a.  "Reported wage sum", for each occupational title, the sum of every product of each reported wage rate, which shall include fringe benefits, multiplied by the total number of reportable hours at such wage rate; and

  b.  "Weighted average wage", the reported wage sum for each occupational title divided by the total number of reportable hours for that occupational title.

  2.  The department shall annually calculate the public works contracting minimum wage in each locality.  The public works contracting minimum wage shall be equal to one hundred twenty percent of the average hourly wage in a particular locality, as determined by the Missouri economic research and information center within the department of economic development, or any successor agency.

  3.  A final determination of the prevailing hourly rate of wages and the public works contracting minimum wage applicable to every locality to be contained in an annual wage order shall be made annually on or before July 1, 2019, and July first of each year thereafter.  The wage order shall remain in effect until superseded by a new annual wage order.  The department shall, by March 10, 2019, and March tenth of each year thereafter, make an initial determination of the prevailing wage rate for each occupational title within the locality as well as an initial determination as to the public works contracting minimum wage.  Objections may be filed as to any initial determination as provided in section 290.262.

  4.  (1)  If the total number of reportable hours that are paid pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement and the total number of reportable hours that are not paid pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement equal or exceed, in the aggregate, one thousand hours for any particular occupational title within a locality, workers engaged in that occupational title in such locality shall be paid the prevailing wage rate determined by the department pursuant to this section.

  (2)  If the total number of reportable hours that are paid pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement and the total number of reportable hours that are not paid pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement do not equal or exceed, in the aggregate, one thousand hours for any particular occupational title within a locality, workers engaged in that occupational title in such locality shall be paid the public works contracting minimum wage.

  5.  For purposes of this section, the term "reportable hours" shall mean hours reported by a contractor for work performed under such contractor in a particular occupational title within a particular locality.

  6.  (1)  The different types of occupational titles to which sections 290.210 to 290.340 shall apply shall be limited to, and shall include, all of the following:

  (a)  Asbestos worker;

  (b)  Boilermaker;

  (c)  Bricklayer;

  (d)  Carpenter, which shall include pile driver, millwright, lather, and linoleum layer;

  (e)  Cement mason, which shall include plasterer;

  (f)  Communications technician;

  (g)  Electrician;

  (h)  Elevator constructor;

  (i)  Glazier;

  (j)  Ironworker;

  (k)  General laborer, including first semi-skilled laborer and second semi-skilled laborer;

  (l)  Mason, which shall include marble mason, marble finisher, terrazzo worker, terrazzo finisher, tile setter, and tile finisher;

  (m)  Operating engineer, which shall include operating engineer group one, operating engineer group two, operating engineer group three, operating engineer group three-A, operating engineer group four, and operating engineer group five;

  (n)  Outside lineman, lineman operator, groundman, lineman tree trimmer, groundman tree trimmer, and any combination thereof;

  (o)  Painter;

  (p)  Plumber, which shall include pipefitter;

  (q)  Roofer;

  (r)  Sheet metal worker;

  (s)  Sprinkler fitter; and

  (t)  Truck driver, which shall include truck control service driver, truck driver group one, truck driver group two, truck driver group three, and truck driver group four.

  (2)  Each occupational title listed in subdivision (1) of this subsection shall have the same meaning and description as given to such occupational title in 8 CSR 30-3.060.

  290.260.  Determination of hourly rate for heavy and highway construction work, when made, where filed, objections, hearing, determination. — 1.  The department, as it deems necessary, shall from time to time investigate and determine the prevailing hourly rate of wages for heavy and highway construction work in the localities.  In doing so, the department shall accept and consider information regarding local wage rates that is submitted in either paper or electronic formats.  A determination applicable to every locality to be contained in a general wage order shall be made annually on or before July first of each year for the Missouri state highways and transportation commission and shall remain in effect until superseded by a new general wage order.  In determining prevailing rates, the department shall ascertain and consider the applicable wage rates established by collective bargaining agreements, if any, and the rates that are paid generally within the locality.

  2.  A certified copy of the determination so made shall be filed immediately with the secretary of state and with the department in Jefferson City.  Copies shall be supplied by the department to all persons requesting them within ten days after the filing.

  3.  At any time within thirty days after the certified copies of the determinations have been filed with the secretary of state and the department, any person who is affected thereby may object in writing to the determination or the part thereof that he deems objectionable by filing a written notice with the department, stating the specific grounds of the objection.

  4.  Within thirty days of the receipt of the objection, the department shall set a date for a hearing on the objection.  The date for the hearing shall be within sixty days of the receipt of the objection.  Written notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be given to the objectors at least ten days prior to the date set for the hearing.

  5.  The department at its discretion may hear each written objection separately or consolidate for hearing any two or more written objections.  At the hearing the department shall first introduce in evidence the investigation it instituted and the other facts which were considered at the time of the original determination which formed the basis for its determination.  The department, or the objector, or any interested party, thereafter may introduce any evidence that is material to the issues.

  6.  Within twenty days of the conclusion of the hearing, the department must rule on the written objection and make the final determination that it believes the evidence warrants.  Immediately, the department shall file a certified copy of its final determination with the secretary of state and with the department and shall serve a copy of the final determination on all parties to the proceedings by personal service or by registered mail.

  7.  This final decision of the department of the prevailing wages in the locality is subject to review in accordance with the provisions of chapter 536.  Any person affected, whether or not the person participated in the proceedings resulting in the final determination, may have the decision of the department reviewed.  The filing of the final determination with the secretary of state shall be considered a service of the final determination on persons not participating in the administrative proceedings resulting in the final determination.

  8.  At any time before trial any person affected by the final determination of the department may intervene in the proceedings to review under chapter 536 and be made a party to the proceedings.

  9.  All proceedings in any court affecting a determination of the department under the provisions of sections 290.210 to 290.340 shall have priority in hearing and determination over all other civil proceedings pending in the court, except election contests.

  290.262.  Determination of hourly rate, certification — objections, hearings — final determination — notice to department by public body, when. — 1.  A certified copy of any initial wage determinations made pursuant to section 290.257 shall be filed immediately with the secretary of state and with the department in Jefferson City.  Copies shall be supplied by the department to all persons requesting them within ten days after the filing.

  2.  At any time within thirty days after the certified copies of the determinations have been filed with the secretary of state and the department, any person who is affected thereby may object in writing to a determination or a part thereof that he or she deems objectionable by filing a written notice with the department, stating the specific grounds of the objection.  If no objection is filed, the determination is final after thirty days.

  3.  After the receipt of the objection, the department shall set a date for a hearing on the objection.  The date for the hearing shall be within sixty days of the receipt of the objection.  Written notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be given to the objectors at least ten days prior to the date set for the hearing.

  4.  The department at its discretion may hear each written objection separately or consolidate for hearing any two or more written objections.  At the hearing the department shall first introduce in evidence the investigation it instituted and the other facts which were considered at the time of the original determination which formed the basis for its determination.  The department, or the objector, or any interested party, thereafter may introduce any evidence that is material to the issues.

  5.  Within twenty days of the conclusion of the hearing, the department shall rule on the written objection and make the final determination that it believes the evidence warrants.  Immediately, the department shall file a certified copy of its final determination with the secretary of state and with the department and shall serve a copy of the final determination on all parties to the proceedings by personal service or by registered mail.

  6.  This final decision of the department of the prevailing wages in the locality for each occupational title is subject to review in accordance with the provisions of chapter 536.  Any person affected, whether or not the person participated in the proceedings resulting in the final determination, may have the decision of the department reviewed.  The filing of the final determination with the secretary of state shall be considered a service of the final determination on persons not participating in the administrative proceedings resulting in the final determination.

  7.  At any time before trial any person affected by the final determination of the department may intervene in the proceedings to review under chapter 536 and be made a party to the proceedings.

  8.  Any annual wage order made for a particular occupational title in a locality, that is based on the number of hours worked under a collective bargaining agreement, may be altered once each year, as provided in this subsection.  The prevailing wage for each such occupational title may be adjusted on the anniversary date of any collective bargaining agreement which covers all persons in that particular occupational title in the locality in accordance with any annual incremental wage increases set in the collective bargaining agreement.  If the prevailing wage for an occupational title is adjusted pursuant to this subsection, the employee's representative or employer in regard to such collective bargaining agreement shall notify the department of this adjustment, including the effective date of the adjustment.  The adjusted prevailing wage shall be in effect until the next final annual wage order is issued pursuant to this section.  The wage rates for any particular job, contracted and commenced within sixty days of the contract date, which were set as a result of the annual or revised wage order, shall remain in effect for the duration of that particular job.

  9.  In addition to all other reporting requirements of sections 290.210 to 290.340, each public body which is awarding a contract for a public works project shall, prior to beginning of any work on such public works project, notify the department, on a form prescribed by the department, of the scope of the work to be done, the various types of craftsmen who will be needed on the project, and the date work will commence on the project.

  290.263.  Wage rates to equal or exceed federal minimum wage. — The wage rates required to be paid to workers upon public works pursuant to sections 290.210 to 290.340 shall not be less than the minimum wage specified under Section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended.

  290.265.  Wage rates posted, where. — A clearly legible statement of all wage rates required to be paid to all workers employed in order to execute the contract and employed on the construction of the public works shall be kept posted in a prominent and easily accessible place at the site thereof by each contractor and subcontractor engaged in the public works projects under sections 290.210 to 290.340 and such notice shall remain posted during the full time that any such worker shall be employed on the public works.

  290.270.  Declaration as to wages final — maximum wages and hours not limited. — The finding of the department ascertaining and declaring the prevailing hourly rate of wages and the public works contracting minimum wage shall be final for the locality, unless reviewed under the provisions of sections 290.210 to 290.340.  Nothing in sections 290.210 to 290.340, however, shall be construed to prohibit the payment to any worker employed on any public work of more than the prevailing hourly rate of wages or the public works contracting minimum wage.  Nothing in sections 290.210 to 290.340 shall be construed to limit the hours of work which may be performed by any worker in any particular period of time.

  290.280.  Administration of oaths — subpoenas — enforcement of subpoenas. — The authorized representative of the department may administer oaths, take or cause to be taken the depositions of witnesses, and require by subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of all books, records, and other evidence relative to any matter under investigation or hearing.  The subpoena shall be signed and issued by the department's authorized representative.  In case of failure of any person to comply with any subpoena lawfully issued under this section, or on the refusal of any witness to produce evidence or to testify to any matter regarding which he may be lawfully interrogated, the authorized representative of the department may proceed to enforce obedience to the subpoenas in the manner provided by section 536.077 for administrative agencies.  The authorized representative of the department shall have the power to certify to official acts.

  290.290.  Contractor's payroll records, contents — affidavit of compliance required — signs on motor vehicles and equipment, requirements — temporary stationary sign, when — exception. — 1.  The contractor and each subcontractor engaged in any construction of public works shall keep full and accurate records clearly indicating the names, occupations and crafts of every worker employed by them in connection with the public work together with an accurate record of the number of hours worked by each worker and the actual wages paid therefor.  The payroll records required to be so kept shall be open to inspection by any authorized representative of the contracting public body or of the department at any reasonable time and as often as may be necessary and such records shall not be destroyed or removed from the state for the period of one year following the completion of the public work in connection with which the records are made.

  2.  Each contractor and subcontractor shall file with the contracting public body upon completion of the public work and prior to final payment therefor an affidavit stating that he or she had fully complied with the provisions and requirements of sections 290.210 to 290.340, and no public body shall be authorized to make final payment until such affidavit is filed therewith in proper form and order.

  3.  Each contractor and subcontractor engaged in any construction of public works shall have its name, acceptable abbreviation or recognizable logo and the name of the city and state of the mailing address of the principal office of the company, on each motor vehicle and motorized self-propelled piece of equipment which is used in connection with such public works project during the time the contractor or subcontractor is engaged on such project.  The sign shall be legible from a distance of twenty feet but the size of the lettering need not be larger than two inches.  In cases where equipment is leased or where affixing a legible sign to the equipment is impractical, the contractor may place a temporary stationary sign, with the information required pursuant to this subsection, at the main entrance of the construction project in place of affixing the required information on the equipment so long as such sign is not in violation of any state or federal statute, rule or regulation.  Motor vehicles which are required to have similar information affixed thereto pursuant to requirements of a regulatory agency of the state or federal government are exempt from the provisions of this subsection.

  4.  The provisions of subsection 3 of this section shall not apply to construction of public works for which the contract awarded is in the amount of two hundred fifty thousand dollars or less.

  290.300.  Actions for wages by worker authorized. — Any worker employed by the contractor or by any subcontractor under the contractor who shall be paid for his or her services in a sum less than the stipulated rates for work done under the contract, shall have a right of action for double whatever difference there may be between the amount so paid and the rates provided by the contract together with a reasonable attorney's fee to be determined by the court, and an action brought to recover same shall be deemed to be a suit for wages, and any and all judgments entered therein shall have the same force and effect as other judgments for wages.

  290.305.  Rebates by workers prohibited, exception. — No person, firm or corporation shall violate the wage provisions of any contract contemplated in sections 290.210 to 290.340 or suffer or require any employee to work for less than the rate of wages so fixed, or violate any of the provisions contained in sections 290.210 to 290.340.  Where workers are employed and their rate of wages has been determined as provided in sections 290.210 to 290.340, no person, either on his or her behalf or for any other person, shall request, demand or receive, either before or after such worker is engaged, that such worker pay back, return, donate, contribute, or give any part or all of said worker's wages, salary, or thing of value, to any person, upon the statement, representation, or understanding that failure to comply with such request or demand will prevent such worker from procuring or retaining employment, and no person shall, directly or indirectly, pay, request or authorize any other person to violate this section.  This section shall not apply to any agent or representative of a duly constituted labor organization acting in the collection of dues or assessments of such organization.

  290.315.  Deductions from wages, agreement to be written, approval of public body required. — All contractors and subcontractors subject to sections 290.210 to 290.340 shall make full payment of the required wages in legal tender, without any deduction for food, sleeping accommodations, transportation, use of small tools, or any other thing of any kind or description.  This section shall not apply where the employer and employee enter into an agreement in writing at the beginning of said term of employment covering deductions for food, sleeping accommodations, or other similar items, provided such agreement is submitted by the employer to the public body awarding the contract and the same is approved by such public body as fair and reasonable.

  290.320.  Advertising for bids before wage rates are determined prohibited. — No public body, officer, official, member, agent or representative authorized to contract for public works shall fail, before advertising for bids or contracting for such construction, to have the department determine the wage rates in the locality where the work is to be performed as provided in sections 290.210 to 290.340.

  290.325.  Awarding contract or payment without wage rate determination prohibited. — No public body, officer, official, member, agent or representative thereof authorized to contract for public works shall award a contract for the construction of such improvement or disburse any funds on account of the construction of such public improvement, unless such public body has first had the department determine the rates of wages required to be paid in the locality where the work is to be performed and such determination has been made a part of the specifications and contract for such public works.

  290.330.  Convicted violators of sections 290.210 to 290.340 listed, effect of. — The department after investigation, upon complaint made by an interested party listed under section 290.240 or upon its own initiative, shall file with the secretary of state a list of the contractors and subcontractors who it finds have been prosecuted and convicted for violations of sections 290.210 to 290.340 and such contractor or subcontractor, or simulations thereof, shall be prohibited from contracting directly or indirectly with any public body for the construction of any public works or from performing any work on the same as a contractor or subcontractor for a period of one year from the date of the first conviction for such violation and for a period of three years from the date of each subsequent violation and conviction thereof.  No public body shall award a contract for a public works to any contractor or subcontractor, or simulation thereof, during the time that its name appears on said list.  The filing of the notice of conviction with the secretary of state shall be notice to all public bodies and their officers, officials, members, agents and representatives.

  290.335.  Notice of violation, failure to comply, attorney general shall sue, injunctive relief authorized. — If it is found that a public body, contractor or subcontractor has not complied with any of the terms of sections 290.210 to 290.340, the department shall give notice of the precise violation in writing to such public body, contractor or subcontractor.  Sufficient time may be allowed for compliance therewith as the department deems necessary.  After the expiration of the time prescribed in said notice, the department may in writing inform the attorney general of the fact that such notice has been given and that the public body, contractor or subcontractor or the authorized representative or agent thereof to whom it was directed has not complied with such notice.  Upon receipt thereof, the attorney general shall at the earliest possible time bring suit in the name of the state in the circuit court of the county in which such public body is located or where any such contractor or subcontractor is engaged in any public works to enjoin the award of such contract for a public works, or any further work or payments thereunder if the contract has been awarded, until the requirements of such notice are fully complied with.  The court may issue a temporary restraining order with due notice to the defendant in such action.  The plaintiff shall in any such injunctive action post an adequate bond to be set by the circuit judge.  Upon final hearing thereof, if the court is satisfied that the requirements of the notice by the department to the defendant were not unreasonable or arbitrary, it shall issue an order enjoining the awarding of such contract for a public works, or any further work or payments thereunder if the contract has been awarded, until the notice is fully complied with.  Such injunction shall continue operative until the court is satisfied that the requirements of such notice have been complied with and the court shall have and exercise with respect to the enforcement of such injunctions all the power in it in other similar cases.  Both the plaintiff and defendant in such action have the same rights of appeal as are provided by law in other injunction proceedings.

  290.340.  Penalty for violation. — Any officer, official, member, agent or representative of any public body, contractor or subcontractor who willfully violates and omits to comply with any of the provisions and requirements of sections 290.210 to 290.340 shall be punished for each violation thereof by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.  Each day such violation or omission continues shall constitute a separate offense as contemplated by this section.

  290.350.  Request for arbitration, when, how made — board to be appointed. — Whenever a dispute exists concerning wages, hours of labor, or conditions of employment of members of a paid fire department of any county, city, town, fire district, or other governmental unit having a population in excess of twenty thousand or located in a county of the first class, and a request for arbitration is made by either party to the dispute, a firemen's arbitration board shall be appointed as provided in sections 290.350 to 290.380.  Request for arbitration may be made by written petition signed by at least fifty-one percent of the employees of the fire department or by resolution of the county commission, council, board, or other governing body having direction and control over the fire department.

  290.360.  Board members — selected, how — officers. — The board shall consist of five members, four of whom shall be appointed by the chief executive officer of the county, city, town, fire district, or other governmental unit involved, and shall be qualified voters of the county, city, town, fire district, or other governmental unit involved.  Two of these appointments shall be made from a list of four or more, submitted by the employees.  If the request for arbitration is initiated by petition of the employees, the petition shall be accompanied by a list of four or more persons.  If the request for arbitration is initiated by the county commission, council, board or other governing body having direction and control over the fire department, the chief executive officer of the county, city, town, fire district, or other governmental unit shall mail a copy of the resolution, together with a request for the submission of a list of four or more prospective members of the firemen's arbitration board to representatives of the employees of the fire department.  The four members appointed by the chief executive officer shall select the fifth member of the board, who may or may not be a registered voter of the county, city, town, fire district, or other governmental unit involved.  The board shall meet and organize as soon as possible after its appointment.  The board shall select from its membership a chairman and any other officers it considers necessary, and make rules of procedure governing its hearings.

  290.370.  Hearing and recommendations of board. — The board shall conduct hearings, with dispatch, for the purpose of hearing evidence relevant to the subject of the dispute, and shall, as soon as practicable, report its findings and recommendations in writing to the chief executive officer of the county, city, town, fire district, or other governmental unit involved, and to any organization of firemen involved.  The report shall be concurred in by at least three members of the board.  The recommendation shall be advisory only and shall not be binding upon the county, city, town, fire district, or other governmental unit, or upon the members of the fire department involved.

  290.380.  Expenses of board members to be paid. — Members of the board shall serve without compensation.  All necessary expenses of any hearing conducted by the board members, certified to by all the members of the board, shall be paid by the county, city, town, fire district, or other governmental unit involved.

  290.400.  Definitions. — As used in sections 290.400 to 290.450 the following words have the meanings indicated unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

  (1)  "Commission", the labor and industrial relations commission of Missouri;

  (2)  "Employee", every woman or man in receipt of or entitled to compensation for labor performed for any employer;

  (3)  "Employer", every person, firm, corporation, agent, manager, representative, contractor, subcontractor, principal or other person having control or direction of any woman or man employed at any labor, or responsible directly or indirectly for the wages of another;

  (4)  "Female", a woman of eighteen years or over;

  (5)  "Wage rates" or "wages", any compensation for labor measured by time, piece, or otherwise.

  290.410.  Employer not to pay female lower wage. — Notwithstanding any other provisions of the law, no employer shall pay any female in his employ at wage rates less than the wage rates paid to male employees in the same establishment for the same quantity and quality of the same classification of work, provided that nothing herein shall prohibit a variation of rates of pay for male and female employees engaged in the same classification of work based upon a difference in seniority, length of service, ability, skill, difference in duties or services performed, difference in the shift or time of day worked, hours of work, or restrictions or prohibitions on lifting or moving objects in excess of specified weight, or other reasonable differentiation, or factors other than sex, when exercised in good faith.

  290.420.  Female may register complaint. — Any affected female employee may register with the commission a complaint that the wages paid to her are less than the wages to which she is entitled under sections 290.400 to 290.450.

  290.430.  Labor and industrial relations commission to mediate wage disputes. — The commission shall take all proceedings necessary to mediate the dispute concerning the payment of any sums alleged to be due and unpaid to the female employees.  The commission shall have the power to issue such regulations not inconsistent with the purpose and provisions of sections 290.400 to 290.450, as it deems necessary or appropriate for the administration thereof.

  290.440.  Female may recover wages, when — burden of proof. — 1.  Any employer who violates section 290.410 is liable to the female employee affected in the amount of the wages of which the female employee is deprived by reason of the violation.

  2.  Any female employee receiving less than the wage to which she is entitled under sections 290.400 to 290.450 may recover in a civil action the balance of the wages, together with the costs of suit, notwithstanding any agreement to work for a lesser wage.

  3.  The burden of proof shall be upon the person bringing the claim to establish that the differentiation in rate of pay is based upon the factor of sex and not upon other differences or factors.

  290.450.  Actions to be instituted in circuit court — limitations. — Any action based upon or arising under sections 290.400 to 290.450 shall be instituted in the circuit court within six months after the date of the alleged violation, but in no event shall any employer be liable for any pay due under sections 290.400 to 290.450 for more than thirty days prior to receipt by the employer of written notice of claim thereof from the female employee.

  290.460.  Powers and duties of commission. — The commission shall carry on a continuing program of education, information, study, and community organization concerning the problems of female employees in seeking, obtaining and holding employment without discrimination on account of sex.  The commission's power and duties shall include but not be limited to the following:

  (1)  Promote in cooperation with the federal government, state, local and private agencies and organizations, programs to eliminate discrimination in employment based solely on sex;

  (2)  Promote research with the view to reducing barriers based solely on sex in the hire, employment and retention of female employees;

  (3)  Sponsor and correlate in communities of the state, information and educational programs intended to reduce or abolish discrimination in employment based solely on sex;

  (4)  Recommend to the governor, from time to time, any specific proposals for legislation as may be deemed necessary and proper for the elimination in employment of discrimination based solely on sex.

  290.500.  Definitions. — As used in sections 290.500 to 290.530, the following words and phrases mean:

  (1)  "Agriculture", farming and all its branches including, but not limited to, the cultivation and tillage of the soil, dairying, the production, cultivation, growing and harvesting of any agricultural commodities, the raising of livestock, fish and other marine life, bees, fur-bearing animals or poultry and any practices performed by a farmer or on a farm as an incident to or in conjunction with farming operations, including preparation for market, delivery to storage or to market or to carriers for transportation to market;

  (2)  "Director", the director of the department of labor and industrial relations or his authorized representative;

  (3)  "Employee", any individual employed by an employer, except that the term "employee" shall not include:

  (a)  Any individual employed in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity;

  (b)  Any individual engaged in the activities of an educational, charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization where the employer-employee relationship does not, in fact, exist or where the services rendered to the organization are on a voluntary basis;

  (c)  Any individual standing in loco parentis to foster children in their care;

  (d)  Any individual employed for less than four months in any year in a resident or day camp for children or youth, or any individual employed by an educational conference center operated by an educational, charitable or not-for-profit organization;

  (e)  Any individual engaged in the activities of an educational organization where employment by the organization is in lieu of the requirement that the individual pay the cost of tuition, housing or other educational fees of the organization or where earnings of the individual employed by the organization are credited toward the payment of the cost of tuition, housing or other educational fees of the organization;

  (f)  Any individual employed on or about a private residence on an occasional basis for six hours or less on each occasion;

  (g)  Any handicapped person employed in a sheltered workshop, certified by the department of elementary and secondary education;

  (h)  Any person employed on a casual basis to provide baby-sitting services;

  (i)  Any individual employed by an employer subject to the provisions of part A of subtitle IV of title 49, United States Code, 49 U.S.C. §§ 10101 et seq.;

  (j)  Any individual employed on a casual or intermittent basis as a golf caddy, newsboy, or in a similar occupation;

  (k)  Any individual whose earnings are derived in whole or in part from sales commissions and whose hours and places of employment are not substantially controlled by the employer;

  (l)  Any individual who is employed in any government position defined in 29 U.S.C. §§ 203(e)(2)(C)(i)-(ii);

  (m)  Any individual employed by a retail or service business whose annual gross volume sales made or business done is less than five hundred thousand dollars;

  (n)  Any individual who is an offender, as defined in section 217.010, who is incarcerated in any correctional facility operated by the department of corrections, including offenders who provide labor or services on the grounds of such correctional facility pursuant to section 217.550;

  (o)  Any individual described by the provisions of section 29 U.S.C. 213(a) (8);

  (4)  "Employer", any person acting directly or indirectly in the interest of an employer in relation to an employee;

  (5)  "Learner and apprentice", any individual under 20 years of age who has not completed the required training for a particular job.  In no event shall the individual be deemed a learner or apprentice in the occupation after three months of training except where the director finds, after investigation, that for the particular occupation a minimum of proficiency cannot be acquired in three months.  In no case shall a person be declared to be a learner or apprentice after six months of training for a particular employer or job.  Employees of an amusement or recreation business that meets the criteria set out in 29 U.S.C. § 213(a) (3) may be deemed a learner or apprentice for ninety working days.  No individual shall be deemed a learner or apprentice solely for the purpose of evading the provisions of sections 290.500 to 290.530;

  (6)  "Occupation", any occupation, service, trade, business, industry, or branch or group of industries or employment or class of employment in which individuals are gainfully employed;

  (7)  "Wage", compensation due to an employee by reason of his employment, payable in legal tender of the United States or checks on banks convertible into cash on demand at full face value;

  (8)  "Person", any individual, partnership, association, corporation, business, business trust, legal representative, or any organized group of persons;

  (9)  "Man-day", any day during which an employee performs any agricultural labor for not less than one hour.

  290.502.  Minimum wage rate — increase or decrease, when. — 1.  Except as may be otherwise provided pursuant to sections 290.500 to 290.530, effective January 1, 2007, every employer shall pay to each employee wages at the rate of $6.50 per hour, or wages at the same rate or rates set under the provisions of federal law as the prevailing federal minimum wage applicable to those covered jobs in interstate commerce, whichever rate per hour is higher.

  2.  The minimum wage shall be increased or decreased on January 1, 2008, and on January 1 of successive years, by the increase or decrease in the cost of living.  On September 30, 2007, and on each September 30 of each successive year, the director shall measure the increase or decrease in the cost of living by the percentage increase or decrease as of the preceding July over the level as of July of the immediately preceding year of the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) or successor index as published by the U.S. Department of Labor or its successor agency, with the amount of the minimum wage increase or decrease rounded to the nearest five cents.

  3.  Except as may be otherwise provided pursuant to sections 290.500 to 290.530, and notwithstanding subsection 1 of this section, effective January 1, 2025, every employer shall pay to each employee wages at the rate of not less than $13.75 per hour, or wages at the same rate or rates set under the provisions of federal law as the prevailing federal minimum wage applicable to those covered jobs in interstate commerce, whichever rate per hour is higher.  Thereafter, the minimum wage established by this subsection shall be increased by $1.25 per hour, to $15.00 per hour, effective January 1, 2026.  Thereafter, the minimum wage established by this subsection shall be increased or decreased on January 1, 2027, and on January 1 of successive years, per the method set forth in subsection 2 of this section.  If at any time the federal minimum wage rate is above or is thereafter increased above the minimum wage then in effect under this subsection, the minimum wage required by this subsection shall continue to be increased pursuant to this subsection^*, but the higher federal rate shall immediately become the minimum wage required by this subsection and shall be increased or decreased per the method set forth in subsection 2 for so long as it remains higher than the state minimum wage required and increased pursuant to this subsection.

  4.  For purposes of this section, the term "public employer" means an employer that is the state or a political subdivision of the state, including a department, agency, officer, bureau, division, board, commission, or instrumentality of the state, or a city, county, town, village, school district, or other political subdivision of the state.  Subsection 3 of this section shall not apply to a public employer with respect to its employees.  Any public employer that is subject to subsections 1 and 2 of this section shall continue to be subject to those subsections.

  290.505.  Overtime compensation, applicable number of hours, exceptions. — 1.  No employer shall employ any of his employees for a workweek longer than forty hours unless such employee receives compensation for his employment in excess of the hours above specified at a rate not less than one and one-half times the regular rate at which he is employed.

  2.  Employees of an amusement or recreation business that meets the criteria set out in 29 U.S.C. 213(a)(3) must be paid one and one-half times their regular compensation for any hours worked in excess of fifty-two hours in any one-week period.

  3.  With the exception of employees described in subsection (2), the overtime requirements of subsection (1) shall not apply to employees who are exempt from federal minimum wage or overtime requirements including, but not limited to, the exemptions or hour calculation formulas specified in 29 U.S.C. Sections 207 and 213, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

  4.  Except as may be otherwise provided under sections 290.500 to 290.530, this section shall be interpreted in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. Section 201, et seq., as amended, and the Portal to Portal Act, 29 U.S.C. Section 251, et seq., as amended, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

  290.507.  Agriculture, law not applicable. — Sections 290.500 to 290.530 shall not apply to any employee or employer engaged in agriculture, as defined in section 290.500 (A) if such employee is employed by an employer who did not, during any calendar quarter during the preceding calendar year, use more than five hundred man-days of agriculture labor, (B) if such employee is the parent, spouse, child, or other member of his employer's immediate family, (C) if such employee (i) is employed as a hand harvest laborer and is paid on a piece rate basis in an operation which has been, and is customarily and generally recognized as having been, paid on a piece rate basis in the region of employment, (ii) commutes daily from his permanent residence to the farm on which he is so employed, and (iii) has been employed in agriculture less than thirteen weeks during the preceding calendar year, (D) if such employee (other than an employee described in clause (C) of this subsection) (i) is sixteen years of age or under and is employed as a hand harvest laborer, is paid on a piece rate basis in an operation which has been, and is customarily and generally recognized as having been, paid on a piece rate basis in the region of employment, (ii) is employed on the same farm as his parent or person standing in the place of his parent, and (iii) is paid at the same piece rate as employees over age sixteen are paid on the same farm, or (E) if such employee is principally engaged in the range production of livestock.

  290.510.  Director may investigate to prove compliance. — The director shall have authority to investigate and ascertain the wages of persons employed in any occupation included within the meaning of sections 290.500 to 290.530.

  290.512.  Gratuities, goods or services as part of wages, effect on minimum wage requirements. — 1.  No employer of any employee who receives and retains compensation in the form of gratuities in addition to wages is required to pay wages in excess of fifty percent of the minimum wage rate specified in sections 290.500 to 290.530, however, total compensation for such employee shall total at least the minimum wage specified in sections 290.500 to 290.530, the difference being made up by the employer.

  2.  If an employee receives and retains compensation in the form of goods or services as an incident of his employment and if he is not required to exercise any discretion in order to receive the goods or services, the employer is required to pay only the difference between the fair market value of the goods and services and the minimum wage otherwise required to be paid by sections 290.500 to 290.530.  The fair market value of the goods and services shall be computed on a weekly basis.  The director shall provide by regulation a method of valuing the goods and services received by any employee in lieu of the wages otherwise required to be paid under the provisions of sections 290.500 to 290.530.  He shall also provide by regulation a method of determining those types of goods and services that are an incident of employment the receipt of which does not require any discretion on the part of the employee.

  290.515.  Physical or mental deficiency of employee, wage rate, determined by director, how. — After a public hearing at which any person may be heard, the director shall provide by regulation for the employment in any occupation of individuals whose earning capacity is impaired by physical or mental deficiency at wages lower than the wage rate applicable under sections 290.500 to 290.530.  The individuals shall be employed as the director finds appropriate to prevent curtailment of opportunities for employment, to avoid undue hardship, and to safeguard the wage rate applicable under sections 290.500 to 290.530, except that no individual who maintains a production level within the limits required of other employees shall be paid less than the wage rate applicable under sections 290.500 to 290.530. Employees affected or their guardians shall be given reasonable notice of this hearing.

  290.517.  Learners and apprentices, wage rate, determined by director, how. — After a public hearing of which individual employees affected must be given reasonable notice, the director shall provide by regulation for the employment in any occupation, at wages lower than the wage rate applicable under sections 290.500 to 290.530, of such learners and apprentices as he finds appropriate to prevent curtailment of opportunities for employment.  Such wage rate for learners and apprentices shall be not less than 90 cents less than the minimum wage established by sections 290.500 to 290.530.  At no time may this provision be used for the purpose of evading the spirit and meaning of sections 290.500 to 290.530.

  290.520.  Employer to keep records — director may inspect, records to be confidential. — Every employer subject to any provision of sections 290.500 to 290.530 or any regulation issued under sections 290.500 to 290.530 shall make and keep for a period of not less than three years on or about the premises wherein any employee is employed or at some other premises which is suitable to the employer, a record of the name, address and occupation of each of his employees, the rate of pay, the amount paid each pay period to each employee, the hours worked each day and each workweek by the employee and any goods or services provided by the employer to the employee as provided in section 290.512.  The records shall be open for inspection by the director by appointment.  Where the records required under this section are kept outside the state, the records shall be made available to the director upon demand.  Every such employer shall furnish to the director on demand a sworn statement of time records and information upon forms prescribed or approved by the director.  All the records and information obtained by the department of labor and industrial relations are confidential and shall be disclosed only on order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

  290.522.  Summary of law and wage rate, employer to post, how. — Every employer subject to any provision of sections 290.500 to 290.530 or of any regulations issued under sections 290.500 to 290.530 shall keep a summary of sections 290.500 to 290.530, approved by the director, and copies of any applicable wage regulations issued under sections 290.500 to 290.530, or a summary of the wage regulations posted in a conspicuous and accessible place in or about the premises wherein any person subject thereto is employed.  Employers shall be furnished copies of the summaries and regulations by the state on request without charge.

  290.523.  Rulemaking authority. — The department may, in accordance with chapter 536, promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary for the enforcement and administration of sections 290.500 to 290.530.  Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028.  This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul^* a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2008, shall be invalid and void.

  290.525.  Violations — penalty. — Any employer who hinders the director in the performance of his duties in the enforcement of sections 290.500 to 290.530 by any of the following acts is guilty of a class C misdemeanor:

  (1)  Refusing to admit the director to any place of employment;

  (2)  Failing to make, keep and preserve any records as required under the provisions of sections 290.500 to 290.530;

  (3)  Falsifying any record required under the provisions of sections 290.500 to 290.530;

  (4)  Refusing to make any record required under the provisions of sections 290.500 to 290.530 accessible to the director;

  (5)  Refusing to furnish a sworn statement of any record required under the provisions of sections 290.500 to 290.530 or any other information required for the proper enforcement of sections 290.500 to 290.530 to the director upon demand;

  (6)  Failing to post a summary of sections 290.500 to 290.530 or a copy of any applicable regulation as required;

  (7)  Discharging or in any other manner discriminating against any employee who has notified the director that he has not been paid wages in accordance with the provisions of sections 290.500 to 290.530, or who has caused to be instituted any proceeding under or related to sections 290.500 to 290.530, or who has testified or is about to testify in any such proceeding;

  (8)  Paying or agreeing to pay wages at a rate less than the rate applicable under sections 290.500 to 290.530. Payment at such rate for any week or portion of a week constitutes a separate offense as to each employee;

  (9)  Otherwise violating any provisions of sections 290.500 to 290.530.

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  290.527.  Action for underpayment of wages, employee may bring — limitation. — Any employer who pays any employee less wages than the wages to which the employee is entitled under or by virtue of sections 290.500 to 290.530 shall be liable to the employee affected for the full amount of the wage rate and an additional amount equal to twice the unpaid wages as liquidated damages, less any amount actually paid to the employee by the employer and for costs and such reasonable attorney fees as may be allowed by the court or jury.  The employee may bring any legal action necessary to collect the claim.  Any agreement between the employee and the employer to work for less than the wage rate shall be no defense to the action.  All actions for the collection of any deficiency in wages shall be commenced within three years of the accrual of the cause of action.

  290.528.  Minimum wage and employment benefits, limitations on political subdivisions. — 1.  As used in this section, the following terms shall mean:

  (1)  "Employee", an individual employed in this state by an employer;

  (2)  "Employer", any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, or any other entity that is legally doing business in this state; except that, the term "employer" shall not include any public employer, as defined in section 285.525;

  (3)  "Employment benefits", anything of value that an employee may receive from an employer in addition to wages and salary.  The term includes, but is not limited to, health, disability, retirement, profit-sharing, and death benefits; group accidental death and dismemberment benefits; paid or unpaid days off from work for holidays, sick leave, vacation, and personal necessity; and terms of employment, attendance, or leave policies;

  (4)  "Political subdivision", any municipality, special district, local governmental body, county, city, town, or village.

  2.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, no political subdivision shall establish, mandate, or otherwise require an employer to provide to an employee:

  (1)  A minimum or living wage rate; or

  (2)  Employment benefits;

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  290.529.  Severability clause. — Except in the circumstances set forth in section 290.523, all the provisions of sections 290.500 to 290.530 are severable.  If any provision, including any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, or clause, of sections 290.500 to 290.530, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, unconstitutional, or unconstitutionally enacted, such decision shall not affect other provisions or applications of sections 290.500 to 290.530 that can be given effect without the invalid, unconstitutional, or unconstitutionally enacted provision or application.

  290.530.  Law not to interfere with collective bargaining rights. — Nothing in sections 290.500 to 290.530 shall be deemed to interfere with, impede, or in any way diminish the right of employees to bargain collectively with their employers through representatives of their own choosing in order to establish wages or other conditions of work in excess of the applicable minimum under the provisions of sections 290.500 to 290.530.

  290.550.  Definitions. — As used in sections 290.550 to 290.580, the following terms mean:

  (1)  "Laborers from nonrestrictive states", persons who are residents of a state which has not enacted state laws restricting Missouri laborers from working on public works projects in that state, as determined by the labor and industrial relations commission;

  (2)  "Missouri laborer", any person who has resided in Missouri for at least thirty days and intends to become or remain a Missouri resident;

  (3)  "A period of excessive unemployment", any month immediately following two consecutive calendar months during which the level of unemployment in the state has exceeded five percent as measured by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics in its monthly publication of employment and unemployment figures;

  (4)  "Public works", projects defined as public works pursuant to section 290.210.

  290.555.  Law to apply to certain projects. — Sections 290.550 to 290.580 apply to all labor on public works projects or improvements, whether skilled, semiskilled or unskilled, and whether manual or nonmanual except work done directly by any public utility company and not let to contract.

  290.560.  Certain laborers to be used on public works projects, when — contract provisions — exceptions. — Whenever there is a period of excessive unemployment in this state, every person who is charged with the duty, either by law or contract, of constructing or building any public works project or improvement for the state or any political subdivision, municipal corporation or other governmental unit thereof shall employ only Missouri laborers and laborers from nonrestrictive states on such project or improvement, and every contract let by any such person shall contain a provision requiring that such labor be used, except that other laborers may be used when Missouri laborers or laborers from nonrestrictive states are not available, or are incapable of performing the particular type of work involved, if so certified by the contractor and approved by the contracting officer.

  290.565.  Law not to apply to certain personnel. — The provisions of sections 290.550 to 290.580 shall not apply to regularly employed nonresident executive, supervisory or technical personnel.

  290.570.  Federal projects, statutes not enforced, when. — In all contracts involving the expenditure of federal aid funds, sections 290.550 to 290.580 shall not be enforced in such manner as to conflict with any federal statutes or rules and regulations.

  290.575.  Penalties for failure to use certain laborers, when. — Any person who knowingly fails to use Missouri laborers or laborers from nonrestrictive states as required in section 290.560 shall be guilty of an infraction.  Each separate case of failure to use Missouri laborers or laborers from nonrestrictive states on such public works projects or improvements shall constitute a separate offense.

  290.580.  Department to enforce law — injunctive relief, when. — Sections 290.550 to 290.580 shall be enforced by the department of labor and industrial relations, which, as represented by the attorney general, is empowered to sue for injunctive relief against the awarding of any contract or the continuation of any work under any contract for public works or improvements at a time when the provisions of sections 290.550 to 290.580 are not being met.

  *290.590.  Labor organization membership, dues, and fees not required as condition of employment — definitions — violations, penalty — investigation of complaints — inapplicability, when. — 1.  As used in this section, the following terms shall mean:

  (1)  "Employer", any individual, organization, partnership, state agency, political subdivision, corporation, or other legal entity which employs or has employed one or more individuals performing services for the entity within this state; and

  (2)  "Labor organization", any organization of any kind or agency, or employee representation committee or union which exists for the purpose in whole or in part of dealing with employers concerning wages, rates of pay, hours of work, other conditions of employment, or other forms of compensation.

  2.  No person shall be required as a condition or continuation of employment to:

  (1)  Become, remain, or refrain from becoming a member of a labor organization;

  (2)  Pay any dues, fees, assessments, or other similar charges however denominated of any kind or amount to a labor organization; or

  (3)  In lieu of the payments listed under subdivision (2) of this subsection, pay to any charity or other third party any amount equivalent to, or on a pro rata basis, any dues, fees, assessments, or other charges required of members of a labor organization.

  3.  Any agreement, understanding, or practice, written or oral, implied or expressed, between any labor organization and employer that violates the rights of employees as guaranteed under this section is unlawful, null and void, and of no legal effect.

  4.  Any person who violates or directs another to violate any provision of this section shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor.

  5.  (1)  Any person injured as a result of any violation or threatened violation of this section shall be entitled to injunctive relief against any and all violators or persons threatening violations.

  (2)  Any person injured as a result of any violation or threatened violation of this section may recover any and all damages of any character resulting from such violation or threatened violation including costs and reasonable attorney fees.  Such remedies shall be independent of and in addition to the other penalties and remedies prescribed under this section.

  6.  The prosecuting attorney or circuit attorney with jurisdiction over the location where a violation or threatened violation of this section occurs or the attorney general of this state shall investigate complaints of violation or threatened violation of this section, prosecute any person violating this section, and use all means at their command to ensure the effective enforcement of this section.

  7.  This section shall not apply:

  (1)  To employers and employees covered by the federal Railway Labor Act;

  (2)  To federal employers and employees;

  (3)  To employers and employees on exclusive federal enclaves;

  (4)  Where this section conflicts with or is preempted by federal law; or

  (5)  To any agreement between an employer and a labor organization entered into before August 28, 2017, but shall apply to any such agreement upon its renewal, extension, amendment, or modification in any respect after August 28, 2017.

  290.600.  Definitions. — As used in sections 290.600 through 290.642:

  (1)  "Department", department of labor and industrial relations;

  (2)  "Director", director of the department of labor and industrial relations;

  (3)  "Domestic violence", as such term is defined in section 455.010;

  (4)  "Earned paid sick time", time that is compensated at the same hourly rate and with the same benefits, including health care benefits, as the employee normally earns during hours worked and is provided by an employer to an employee for the purposes described in section 290.606, but in no case shall this hourly amount be less than that provided under section 290.502;

  (5)  "Employee", any individual employed in this state by an employer, but does not include:

  (a)  Any individual engaged in the activities of an educational, charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization where the employer-employee relationship does not, in fact, exist or where the services rendered to the organization are on a voluntary basis;

  (b)  Any individual standing in loco parentis to foster children in their care;

  (c)  Any individual employed for less than four months in any year in a resident or day camp for children or youth, or any individual employed by an educational conference center operated by an educational, charitable or not-for-profit organization;

  (d)  Any individual engaged in the activities of an educational organization where employment by the organization is in lieu of the requirement that the individual pay the cost of tuition, housing or other educational fees of the organization or where earnings of the individual employed by the organization are credited toward the payment of the cost of tuition, housing or other educational fees of the organization;

  (e)  Any individual employed on or about a private residence on an occasional basis for six hours or less on each occasion;

  (f)  Any individual employed on a casual basis to provide baby-sitting services;

  (g)  Any individual employed by an employer subject to the provisions of Part A of Subtitle IV of Title 49, United States Code, 49 U.S.C. §§ 10101 et seq.;

  (h)  Any individual employed on a casual or intermittent basis as a golf caddy, newsboy, or in a similar occupation;

  (i)  Any individual who is employed in any government position defined in 29 U.S.C. §§ 203(e)(2)(C)(i)-(ii);

  (j)  Any individual employed by a retail or service business whose annual gross volume sales made or business done is less than five hundred thousand dollars;

  (k)  Any individual who is an offender, as defined in section 217.010, who is incarcerated in any correctional facility operated by the department of corrections, including offenders who provide labor or services on the grounds of such correctional facility pursuant to section 217.550; or,

  (l)  Any individual described by the provisions of section 29 U.S.C. 213(a)(8);

  (6)  "Employer", any person acting directly or indirectly in the interest of an employer in relation to an employee; provided, however, that for the purposes of sections 290.600 through 290.642 "employer" does not include the United States government, the state, or a political subdivision of the state, including a department, agency, officer, bureau, division, board, commission, or instrumentality of the state, or a city, county, town, village, school district, public higher education institution, or other political subdivision of the state;

  (7)  "Family member", any of the following individuals:

  (a)  Regardless of age, a biological, adopted or foster child, stepchild or legal ward, a child of a domestic partner, a child to whom the employee stands in loco parentis, or an individual to whom the employee stood in loco parentis when the individual was a minor;

  (b)  A biological, foster, stepparent or adoptive parent or legal guardian of an employee or an employee's spouse or domestic partner or an individual who stood in loco parentis when the employee or employee's spouse or domestic partner was a minor child;

  (c)  An individual to whom the employee is legally married under the laws of any state, or a domestic partner who is registered as such under the laws of any state or political subdivision, or an individual with whom the employee is in a continuing social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature;

  (d)  A grandparent, grandchild, or sibling (whether of a biological, foster, adoptive or step relationship) of the employee or the employee's spouse or domestic partner; or

  (e)  A person for whom the employee is responsible for providing or arranging health or safety-related care, including but not limited to helping that individual obtain diagnostic, preventative, routine, or therapeutic health treatment or ensuring the person is safe following domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking;

  (8)  "Health care professional", any individual licensed under federal or any state law to provide medical or emergency services, including but not limited to doctors, nurses, certified nurse midwives, mental health professionals, and emergency room personnel;

  (9)  "Person", any individual, partnership, association, corporation, business, business trust, legal representative, or any organized group of persons;

  (10)  "Retaliatory personnel action", denial of any right guaranteed under sections 290.600 through 290.642, or any threat, discharge, suspension, demotion, reduction of hours, or any other adverse action against an employee for the exercise of any right guaranteed herein.  "Retaliatory personnel action" shall also include interference with or punishment for in any manner participating in or assisting an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under sections 290.600 through 290.642;

  (11)  "Same hourly rate", means the following:

  (a)  For employees paid on the basis of a single hourly rate, the same hourly rate shall be the employee's regular hourly rate;

  (b)  For employees who are paid multiple hourly rates of pay from the same employer, the same hourly rate shall be either:

  a.  The wages the employee would have been paid for the hours absent during use of earned paid sick time if the employee had worked; or,

  b.  The weighted average of all hourly rates of pay during the previous pay period.

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  (c)  For employees who are paid a salary, the same hourly rate shall be determined by dividing the wages the employee earns in the previous pay period by the total number of hours worked during the previous pay period.  For determining total number of hours worked during the previous pay period, employees who are exempt from overtime requirements under 29 U.S.C. § 213(a)(1), the Fair Labor Standards Act, shall be assumed to work forty^* hours in each work week unless their normal work week is less than forty^* hours, in which case earned paid sick time shall accrue and the same hourly rate shall be calculated based on the employee's normal work week.  Regardless of the basis used, the same hourly rate shall not be less than the effective minimum wage specified in section 290.502;

  (d)  For employees paid on a piece rate or a fee-for-service basis, the same hourly rate shall be a reasonable calculation of the wages or fees the employee would have received for the piece work, service, or part thereof, if the employee had worked.  Regardless of the basis used, the same hourly rate shall not be less than the effective minimum wage specified in section 290.502;

  (e)  For employees who are paid on a commission basis (whether base wage plus commission or commission only), the same hourly rate shall be the greater of the base wage or the effective minimum wage specified in section 290.502;

  (f)  For employees who receive and retain compensation in the form of gratuities in addition to wages, the same hourly rate shall be the greater of the employee's regular hourly rate or one hundred percent^** of the effective minimum wage specified in section 290.502 without deduction of any tips as a credit;

  (12)  "Sexual assault", as such term is defined in section 455.010;

  (13)  "Stalking", as such term is defined in section 455.010;

  (14)  "Year", a regular and consecutive twelve-month period as determined by the employer; except that for the purposes of section 290.615 and section 290.627, "year" shall mean a calendar year.

  290.603.  Paid sick leave required, when — use of sick leave, restrictions — number of employees, how determined — accrual of leave — commencement date. — 1.  Employees of an employer with fifteen or more employees shall accrue a minimum of one hour of earned paid sick time for every thirty hours worked, but such employees shall not be entitled to use more than fifty-six hours of earned paid sick time per year, unless the employer selects a higher limit.

  2.  Employees of an employer with fewer than fifteen employees shall accrue a minimum of one hour of earned paid sick time for every thirty hours worked, but such employees shall not be entitled to use more than forty hours of earned paid sick time per year, unless the employer selects a higher limit.

  3.  In determining the number of employees of an employer, all employees performing work in the state for an employer for compensation on a full-time, part-time, or temporary basis shall be counted.  In situations in which the number of employees performing work in the state for an employer for compensation per week fluctuates above and below fifteen^* employees per week over the course of a year, an employer is required to provide earned paid sick time pursuant to subsection 1^** of this section if it maintained fifteen or more employees in the state on the payroll for some portion of a working day in each of twenty or more different calendar weeks, including any periods of leave, and whether or not the weeks were consecutive, in either the current or the preceding year (irrespective of whether the same individuals were in employment in each working day).

  4.  All employees shall accrue earned paid sick time as follows:

  (1)  Earned paid sick time as provided in this section shall begin to accrue at the commencement of employment or May 1, 2025, whichever is later.  An employee shall be entitled to use earned paid sick time as it is accrued.  An employer may provide all earned paid sick time that an employee is expected to accrue in a year at the beginning of the year;

  (2)  Employees who are exempt from overtime requirements under 29 U.S.C. § 213(a)(1) of the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act will be assumed to work forty hours in each work week for purposes of earned paid sick time accrual unless their normal work week is less than forty hours, in which case earned paid sick time accrues based upon that normal work week;

  (3)  Up to eighty^*** hours of earned paid sick time shall be carried over to the following year if the employee has any unused accrued earned paid sick time at the end of the year, but this law does not require an employer to permit an employee to use more than the applicable number of hours of earned paid sick time per year as set forth in subsections 1 and 2^**** of this section.  Alternatively, in lieu of carryover of unused earned paid sick time from one year to the next, an employer may pay an employee for unused earned paid sick time at the end of a year which could be carried over and provide the employee with an amount of paid sick time that meets or exceeds the requirements of sections 290.600 through 290.642 that is available for the employee's immediate use at the beginning of the subsequent year;

  (4)  If an employee is transferred to a separate division, entity, or location, but remains employed by the same employer, the employee is entitled to all earned paid sick time accrued at the prior division, entity, or location and is entitled to use all earned paid sick time as provided in this section.  When there is a separation from employment and the employee is rehired within nine months of separation by the same employer, previously accrued earned paid sick time that had not been used shall be reinstated.  Further, the employee shall be entitled to use accrued earned paid sick time and accrue additional earned paid sick time at the recommencement of employment;

  (5)  When a different employer succeeds or takes the place of an existing employer, all employees of the original employer who remain employed by the successor employer are entitled to all earned paid sick time they accrued when employed by the original employer, and are entitled to use earned paid sick time previously accrued;

  (6)  At its discretion, an employer may loan earned paid sick time to an employee in advance of accrual by such employee.

  5.  Any employer with a paid leave policy, such as a paid time off policy, who makes available an amount of paid leave sufficient to meet the accrual requirements of this section that may be used for the same purposes and under the same conditions as earned paid sick time under sections 290.600 through 290.642 is not required to provide additional paid sick time under this section.

  6.  Except as specifically provided in this section, nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring financial or other reimbursement to an employee from an employer upon the employee's termination, resignation, retirement, or other separation from employment for accrued earned paid sick time that has not been used.

  7.  Employees shall not accrue earned paid sick time before May 1, 2025.  Employees who are employed or who commence employment on or after May 1, 2025 shall accrue earned paid sick time and be entitled to use earned paid sick time as it is accrued in accordance with sections 290.600 through 290.642.  The department may develop model posters and notices, engage in rulemaking, initiate outreach programs, and engage in other activities for implementation of the provisions of sections 290.600 through 290.642 as authorized by those sections before May 1, 2025.

  290.606.  Use of leave time, purposes — procedure for requests, documentation. — 1.  Earned paid sick time shall be provided to an employee by an employer for:

  (1)  An employee's mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; an employee's need for medical diagnosis, care, or treatment of a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; an employee's need for preventative medical care;

  (2)  Care of a family member with a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; care of a family member who needs medical diagnosis, care, or treatment of a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; care of a family member who needs preventative medical care;

  (3)  Closure of the employee's place of business by order of a public official due to a public health emergency, or an employee's need to care for a child whose school or place of care has been closed by order of a public official due to a public health emergency, or care for oneself or a family member when it has been determined by the health authorities having jurisdiction or by a health care provider that the employee's or family member's presence in the community may jeopardize the health of others because of his or her exposure to a communicable disease, whether or not the employee or family member has actually contracted the communicable disease; or

  (4)  Absence necessary due to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, provided the leave is to allow the employee to obtain for the employee or the employee's family member:

  (a)  Medical attention needed to recover from physical or psychological injury or disability caused by domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking;

  (b)  Services from a victim services organization;

  (c)  Psychological or other counseling;

  (d)  Relocation or taking steps to secure an existing home due to the domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; or

  (e)  Legal services, including preparing for or participating in any civil or criminal legal proceeding related to or resulting from the domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

  2.  Earned paid sick time shall be provided upon the request of an employee.  Such request may be made orally, in writing, by electronic means, or by any other means acceptable to the employer.  When possible, the request shall include the expected duration of the absence.

  3.  When the use of earned paid sick time is foreseeable, the employee shall make a good faith effort to provide notice of the need for such time to the employer in advance of the use of the earned paid sick time and shall make a reasonable effort to schedule the use of earned paid sick time in a manner that does not unduly disrupt the operations of the employer.  Where such need is not foreseeable, an employer may require an employee to provide notice of the need for the use of earned paid sick time as soon as practicable.

  4.  An employer that requires notice of the need to use earned paid sick time where the need is not foreseeable shall provide a written policy that contains procedures for the employee to provide notice.  An employer that has not provided to the employee a copy of its written policy for providing such notice shall not deny earned paid sick time to the employee based on noncompliance with such a policy.

  5.  An employer may not require, as a condition of an employee's taking earned paid sick time, that the employee search for or find a replacement worker to cover the hours during which the employee is using earned paid sick time.

  6.  Earned paid sick time may be used in the smaller of hourly increments or the smallest increment that the employer's payroll system uses to account for absences or use of other time.

  7.  For earned paid sick time of three or more consecutive work days, an employer may require reasonable documentation that the earned paid sick time has been used for a purpose covered by subsection 1^* of this section.

  (1)  Documentation signed by a heath care professional indicating that earned paid sick time is necessary shall be considered reasonable documentation for purposes of this section.

  (2)  In cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, if the employer requests, one of the following types of documentation selected by the employee shall be considered reasonable documentation:  (i) a police report indicating that the employee or the employee's family member was a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; (ii) a written statement from an employee or agent of a victim service provider affirming that the employee or employee's family member is or was receiving services from a victim service provider; (iii) documentation signed by a health care professional from whom the employee or employee's family member sought assistance relating to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking or the effects thereof; (iv)^** a court document indicating that an employee or employee's family member is or was involved in a legal action related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking; or (v) a written statement from the employee affirming that the employee or employee's family member is taking or took earned paid sick time for a qualifying purpose of subsection 1^* of this section.

  (3)  An employer may not require that the documentation explain the nature of the illness, details of the underlying health needs, or the details of the domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, unless otherwise required by law.

  290.609.  Prohibited employer acts — rights of employees. — 1.  It shall be unlawful for an employer or any other person to interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise of, or the attempt to exercise, any right protected under sections 290.600 through 290.642.

  2.  An employer shall not take retaliatory personnel action or discriminate against an employee or former employee because the individual has exercised rights protected under sections 290.600 through 290.642.  Such rights include, but are not limited to, the right to request or use earned paid sick time pursuant to sections 290.600 through 290.642; the right to file a complaint or inform any person about any employer's alleged violation of sections 290.600 through 290.642; the right to participate in any investigation, hearing, or proceeding or cooperate with or assist the department in any investigations of alleged violations of sections 290.600 through 290.642; and the right to inform any person of his or her potential rights under sections 290.600 through 290.642.

  3.  It shall be unlawful for an employer's absence control policy to count earned paid sick time taken under sections 290.600 through 290.642 as an absence that may lead to or result in discipline, discharge, demotion, suspension, or any other adverse action.

  4.  Protections of this section shall apply to any individual who mistakenly but in good faith alleges violations of sections 290.600 through 290.642.

  290.612.  Written notice by employer, contents — displays. — 1.  Employers shall give employees a written notice about earned paid sick time within fourteen calendar days of the commencement of employment or on April 15, 2025, whichever is later, which must include the following information:  (1) beginning May 1, 2025, employees accrue and are entitled to earned paid sick time at the rate one hour of earned paid sick time for every thirty^* hours of work, and may use earned paid sick time, subject to the limits and terms under sections 290.600 through 290.642 of Missouri law, (2) it is prohibited for an employer to take retaliatory personnel action against employees who request or use earned paid sick time as allowed by law, (3) each employee has the right to bring a civil action if earned paid sick time as required by sections 290.600 through 290.642 is denied by the employer or the employee is subjected to retaliatory personnel action by the employer for exercising the employee's rights under sections 290.600 through 290.642; and, (4) the contact information for the department.  Notice shall be provided by the employer to the employee on a single piece of paper, at least 8.5 x 11, in no less than 14-point font.

  2.  Beginning April 15, 2025, employers shall display a poster that contains the information required in subsection 1^** of this section in a conspicuous and accessible place in each establishment where such employees are employed, provided that such poster has been made available by the department.

  3.  The department may create and make available to employers, model notices and posters that contain the information required under subsection 1^** of this section for employers' use in complying with subsections 1 and 2^*** of this section.  Nothing in this subsection shall be interpreted or applied, either expressly or through practical necessity, to require the department to create or make available notices or posters if it requires the appropriation of funds to cover the costs of such acts.

  290.615.  Recordkeeping requirements, inspections. — 1.  Employers shall retain records documenting hours worked by employees and earned paid sick time taken by employees, for a period of not less than three years, and shall allow the department access to such records, with appropriate notice and at a mutually agreeable time, to monitor compliance with the requirements of sections 290.600 through 290.642.

  2.  To the extent permitted by law, the director may inspect such records, and the records shall be open for inspection by the director by appointment.  Where the records required under this section are kept outside the state, the records shall be made available to the director upon demand.  Every such employer shall furnish to the director on demand a sworn statement of time records and information upon forms prescribed or approved by the director.  All the records and information obtained by the department are confidential and shall be disclosed only on order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

  3.  Nothing in this section shall be interpreted or applied, either expressly or through practical necessity, to require the department or director to access or inspect records or to create forms relating to the inspection of records if it requires the appropriation of funds to cover the costs of such acts.

  290.618.  Rulemaking authority. — 1.  The department may, in accordance with chapter 536, promulgate rules for the implementation, enforcement, and administration of sections 290.600 through 290.642.  Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028.  This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after November 5, 2024, shall be invalid and void.

  2. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted or applied, either expressly or through practical necessity, to require the promulgation or adoption of rules if it requires the appropriation of funds to cover the costs of such acts.

  290.621.  Compliance and complaint procedures — outreach program. — 1.  The department may investigate and ascertain compliance with sections 290.600 through 290.642, establish and implement a system to receive complaints regarding noncompliance with sections 290.600 through 290.642 and to investigate and attempt to resolve complaints between the complainant and the subject of the complaint, and establish additional means of enforcement, including requiring by subpoena the testimony of witnesses and production of books, records, and other evidence relative to any matter under investigation or hearing, issuing notices of violation, holding hearings on notices of violation, making determinations, recovering unpaid earned sick time, and imposing fines for willful violations of up to five hundred dollars^* per day of each day of a continuing violation.  A final decision of the department is subject to review in accordance with the provisions of chapter 536.

  2.  The department may develop and implement an outreach program to inform employees, parents, and persons who are under the care of a health care provider about the availability of earned paid sick time under sections 290.600 through 290.642.  This program may include the distribution of notices and other written materials to child care and elder care providers, domestic violence shelters, schools, hospitals, community health centers and other health care providers in Missouri.

  3.  A municipality, county, city, town, or village may adopt ordinances, rules, and regulations to investigate and ascertain compliance with sections 290.600 through 290.642, establish and implement a system to receive complaints regarding noncompliance with sections 290.600 through 290.642 and to investigate and attempt to resolve complaints between the complainant and the subject of the complaint, and establish additional means of enforcement, with respect to employers within, or employees performing work while physically present in, the geographic boundaries of the municipality, county, city, town, or village.  Any such ordinance, rule, or regulation shall be consistent with this law and any department rules or regulations and system for compliance and enforcement.  The municipality, county, city, town, or village may exercise such powers as allowed by any applicable charter or ordinance, including requiring by subpoena the testimony of witnesses and production of books, records, and other evidence relative to any matter under investigation or hearing, issuing notices of violation, holding hearings on notices of violation, making determinations, recovering unpaid earned sick time, and imposing fines for willful violations of up to the maximum allowed for an ordinance violation.  Before investigating or seeking to resolve any complaint between the complainant and the subject of the complaint, the municipality, county, city, town, or village shall give notice to the department with a copy of the complaint and, within fourteen^** days of such notice, the department may intervene as of right and participate in the matter to ensure that the complaint is being investigated and resolved in the interest of effective enforcement of sections 290.600 through 290.642 or, alternatively, the department may institute its own proceedings in which case the municipality, county, city, town, or village shall refrain from acting on the matter so long as the complaint is being investigated and resolved in the interest of effective enforcement of sections 290.600 through 290.642.  If the department does not, within fourteen^** days, intervene or instigate its own proceedings, the municipality, county, city, town, or village may, without the department, investigate and attempt to resolve the complaint and take other additional means within its power to enforce sections 290.600 through 290.642 against the subject of the complaint.  In no event shall an employer be subject to compliance proceedings arising out of a single set of facts after having already been subjected to a final compliance order by another governmental entity.

  4.  Nothing in this section shall be interpreted or applied, either expressly or through practical necessity, to require the department, a municipality, county, city, town, or village to conduct investigations and ascertain compliance with sections 290.600 through 290.642, to establish and implement a system to receive or resolve complaints, to establish additional means of enforcement, or to conduct outreach and education, including the creation of notices and other written materials, concerning sections 290.600 through 290.642, if it requires the appropriation of funds to cover the costs of such acts.

  290.624.  Employer violations, penalty. — 1.  Any employer who willfully violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions and requirements of sections 290.600 through 290.642 shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor; provided, however, that an employer who willfully violates the notice and posting requirements of section 290.612 shall be guilty of an infraction.

  2.  For purposes of this section, each day of violation or failure to comply and each employee affected shall constitute a separate offense.

  290.627.  Retaliatory personnel actions, right to cause of action — relief. — 1.  Any individual who claims to have been aggrieved by a failure of an employer to comply with any portion of sections 290.600 through 290.642, including but not limited to the failure to provide earned paid sick time or to allow employees to use such time consistent with sections 290.600 through 290.642, or who claims to have suffered a retaliatory personnel action, shall have a right of action and may commence a civil action in the appropriate court of jurisdiction within three years of the accrual of the cause of action, to obtain appropriate relief with respect to such unlawful violation.  Such action may be brought without first filing an administrative complaint.

  2.  In a civil action under this section, if the court finds a violation has occurred, the court may grant as relief, as it deems appropriate and to the extent permitted by law, any permanent or temporary injunction, the full amount of any unpaid earned sick time plus any actual damages suffered as the result of the employer's violation of sections 290.600 through 290.642, an additional amount equal to twice any unpaid earned sick time as liquidated damages, costs, and reasonable attorney's fees as may be allowed by the court, and other legal or equitable relief as may be appropriate to remedy the violation, including, without limitation, reinstatement to employment and back pay.

  290.630.  Confidentiality of information, disclosure not a condition for providing leave time — requirements. — 1.  Except as otherwise required by law, an employer may not require disclosure of details relating to an employee's or an employee's family member's health information, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking as a condition of providing earned paid sick time under sections 290.600 through 290.642.

  2.  Unless as otherwise required by law, any health or safety information possessed by an employer regarding an employee or employee's family member must:

  (1)  Be maintained on a separate form and in a separate file from other personnel information;

  (2)  Be treated as confidential medical records; and

  (3)  Not be disclosed except to the affected employee or with the express written permission of the affected employee.

  290.633.  Collective bargaining agreements, applicability to paid sick leave. — 1.  With respect to employees covered by a valid collective bargaining agreement in effect on November 5, 2024, no provisions of sections 290.600 through 290.642 shall apply until the stated expiration date in the collective bargaining agreement; however, further the provisions of sections 290.600 through 290.642 shall apply upon any such agreement's renewal, extension, amendment, or modification in any respect after November 5, 2024.

  2.  Nothing in sections 290.600 through 290.642 shall be deemed to interfere, impede, or otherwise diminish the right of employees to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing in order to establish earned paid sick time or other conditions of work in excess of the applicable minimum standards under the provisions of sections 290.600 through 290.642.

  3.  Any waiver by an employee of rights under sections 290.600 through 290.642 shall be deemed contrary to public policy and shall be void.

  290.636.  Employers may provide additional sick leave benefits — employer compliance with collective bargaining agreements. — 1.  Nothing in sections 290.600 through 290.642 shall be construed to discourage or prohibit an employer from the adoption or retention of an earned paid sick time policy more generous than the one required herein.

  2.  Nothing in sections 290.600 through 290.642 shall be construed as diminishing the obligation of an employer to comply with any contract, collective bargaining agreement, employment benefit plan, or other agreement providing more generous paid sick time to an employee than required herein.  Nothing in sections 290.600 through 290.642 shall be construed as diminishing the rights of public employees regarding paid sick time or use of paid sick time as provided in the laws of Missouri and ordinances of political subdivisions pertaining to public employees.

  290.639.  Employers may provide greater accrual or use of sick leave. — 1.  Sections 290.600 through 290.642 provide minimum requirements pertaining to earned paid sick time and shall not be construed to preempt, limit, or otherwise affect the applicability of any other law, regulation, requirement, policy, or standard that provides for greater accrual or use by employees of earned paid sick time or that extends other protections to employees.

  2.  Nothing in sections 290.600 through 290.642 shall be interpreted or applied to create a power or obligation contrary to any federal law, rule, or regulation.

  290.642.  Severability clause. — Except as detailed in section 290.618, all of the provisions of sections 290.600 through 290.642 are severable, and if any provision, including any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, or clause, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, unconstitutional, or unconstitutionally enacted, such decision shall not affect other provisions or applications of sections 290.600 through 290.642 that can be given effect without the invalid, unconstitutional, or unconstitutionally enacted provision or application, and to this end the provisions of sections 290.600 through 290.642 are declared severable.