Late Friday, Governor Lamont vetoed House Bill 5001, which I had highlighted in an earlier post as being passed during the waning hours of the legislative session.

That bill would have rescinded a particular labor regulation and required the Department of Labor to promulgate a new regulation in its place.

In vetoing the measure, Governor Lamont noted that the “while it may be reasonable to conclude that state and federal laws should be consistent in this area, that conclusion ought to be made only after sufficient study, debate and input from affected stakeholders.  That did not happen here.”

He also noted that the bill’s application to pending lawsuits was also problematic claiming it raises “serious due process and other constitutional concerns.”

According to an article in the Hartford Courant, the House Speaker has indicated that he will be talking with members about whether to vote to override the veto next week during a special session.

Notably, the veto happened just a week or so after a jury verdict that a hotel in Windsor Locks violated that regulation by failing to segregate service work from nonservice work.  You can find the jury verdict here.  

The Plaintiff is now asking the judge to award back pay damages of $5207 but penalty damages of $28,119.31 — nearly five times the amount of actual loss.

For restaurants and bars in the state, this case as well as the veto are a reminder that the state’s laws and regulations in this area can be costly.  Be sure to review your policies and take active steps to become familiar with the state’s laws.