Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that increases penalties for violations of the Wyoming Occupational Health and Safety Act, effective July 1, 2010.

Highlights:

-Amends the civil penalties as follows for "willfully and knowingly" violating any provision of the Wyoming Occupational Health and Safety Act (Sec. 1):

-Increases the minimum authorized civil penalty for a violation from $5,000 to $8,000 and the maximum authorized civil penalty from $70,000 to $120,000; -Establishes a minimum civil penalty of $50,000 and a maximum civil penalty of $250,000 for cases where the employer has more than 25 employees and the violation results in the death of an employee; and -Establishes a minimum civil penalty of $25,000 and a maximum civil penalty of $250,000 for cases where the employer has 25 or fewer employees and the violation results in the death of an employee.

-Amends the civil penalties as follows for violations of any provision of the Wyoming Occupational Health and Safety Act that are determined to be of a "serious nature" (Sec. 1):

-Increases the maximum authorized civil penalty from $7,000 to $12,000; -Establishes a minimum civil penalty of $20,000 and a maximum civil penalty of $50,000 for cases where the employer has more than 25 employees and the violation results in the death of an employee; and -Establishes a minimum civil penalty of $10,000 and a maximum civil penalty of $50,000 for cases where the employer has 25 or fewer employees and the violation results in the death of an employee.

-Amends the civil penalties as follows for violations of any provision of the Wyoming Occupational Health and Safety Act that are determined to not be of a "serious nature" (Sec. 1):

-Increases the maximum authorized civil penalty from $7,000 to $12,000; -Establishes a minimum civil penalty of $20,000 and a maximum civil penalty of $50,000 for cases where the employer has more than 25 employees and the violation results in the death of an employee; and -Establishes a minimum civil penalty of $10,000 and a maximum civil penalty of $50,000 for cases where the employer has 25 or fewer employees and the violation results in the death of an employee.

-Amends the civil penalties as follows for employers that fail to correct a violation for which a notice of violation had previously been issued (Sec. 1):

-Increases the maximum authorized civil penalty from $7,000 to $12,000 for each day that the violation continues; -Establishes a minimum civil penalty of $20,000 and a maximum civil penalty of $50,000 for cases where the employer has more than 25 employees and the failure to correct the violation results in the death of an employee; and -Establishes a minimum civil penalty of $10,000 and a maximum civil penalty of $50,000 for cases where the employer has 25 or fewer employees and the failure to correct the violation results in the death of an employee.

-Increases the civil penalty for employers who violate the posting requirements from $7,000 to $12,000 per violation (Sec. 1). -Requires the Wyoming Occupational Health and Safety Commission to adjust the civil penalty amounts at least once every 4 years in order to account for changes in the consumer price index (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that increases penalties for violations of the Wyoming Occupational Health and Safety Act, effective July 1, 2010.

Highlights:

-Amends the civil penalties as follows for "willfully and knowingly" violating any provision of the Wyoming Occupational Health and Safety Act (Sec. 1):

-Increases the minimum authorized civil penalty for a violation from $5,000 to $8,000 and the maximum authorized civil penalty from $70,000 to $120,000; -Establishes a minimum civil penalty of $50,000 and a maximum civil penalty of $250,000 for cases where the employer has more than 25 employees and the violation results in the death of an employee; and -Establishes a minimum civil penalty of $25,000 and a maximum civil penalty of $250,000 for cases where the employer has 25 or fewer employees and the violation results in the death of an employee.

-Amends the civil penalties as follows for violations of any provision of the Wyoming Occupational Health and Safety Act that are determined to be of a "serious nature" (Sec. 1):

-Increases the maximum required civil penalty from $7,000 to $12,000; -Establishes a minimum civil penalty of $20,000 and a maximum civil penalty of $50,000 for cases where the employer has more than 25 employees and the violation results in the death of an employee; and -Establishes a minimum civil penalty of $10,000 and a maximum civil penalty of $50,000 for cases where the employer has 25 or fewer employees and the violation results in the death of an employee.

-Amends the civil penalties as follows for violations of any provision of the Wyoming Occupational Health and Safety Act that are determined to not be of a "serious nature" (Sec. 1):

-Increases the maximum authorized civil penalty from $7,000 to $12,000; -Establishes a minimum civil penalty of $20,000 and a maximum civil penalty of $50,000 for cases where the employer has more than 25 employees and the violation results in the death of an employee; and -Establishes a minimum civil penalty of $10,000 and a maximum civil penalty of $50,000 for cases where the employer has 25 or fewer employees and the violation results in the death of an employee.

-Amends the civil penalties as follows for employers that fail to correct a violation for which a notice of violation had previously been issued (Sec. 1):

-Increases the maximum authorized civil penalty from $7,000 to $12,000 for each day that the violation continues; -Establishes a minimum civil penalty of $20,000 and a maximum civil penalty of $50,000 for cases where the employer has more than 25 employees and the failure to correct the violation results in the death of an employee; and -Establishes a minimum civil penalty of $10,000 and a maximum civil penalty of $50,000 for cases where the employer has 25 or fewer employees and the failure to correct the violation results in the death of an employee.

-Increases the civil penalty for employers who violate the posting requirements from $7,000 to $12,000 per violation (Sec. 1). -Requires the Wyoming Occupational Health and Safety Commission to adjust the civil penalty amounts at least once every 4 years in order to account for changes in the consumer price index (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text