1Amending the act of July 14, 1961 (P.L.637, No.329), entitled
2"An act relating to the payment of wages or compensation for
3labor or services; providing for regular pay days; conferring
4powers and duties upon the Department of Labor and Industry,
5including powers and duties with respect to the civil
6collection of wages; providing civil and criminal penalties
7for violations of the act; providing for their collection and
8disposition and providing for additional civil damages,"
9expanding the scope of the act.

10The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
11hereby enacts as follows:

12Section 1. Section 2.1 of the act of July 14, 1961 (P.L.637,
13No.329), known as the Wage Payment and Collection Law, added
14July 14, 1977 (P.L.82, No.30), is amended to read:

15Section 2.1. Definitions.--The following words and phrases
16when used in this act shall have, unless the context clearly
17indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section:

18"Authorized representative." An employe of the Department of
19Labor and Industry who is empowered to perform duties assigned
20in conformity with all existing laws, rules and regulations

1administered by the department.

2"Check." A draft drawn on a bank and payable on demand.

3"Department." The Department of Labor and Industry.

4"Employer." Includes <-the Commonwealth; any of its political 
5subdivisions; any authority created by the General Assembly and 
6any instrumentality or agency of the Commonwealth; every person,
7firm, partnership, association, corporation, receiver or other
8officer of a court of this Commonwealth and any agent or officer
9of any of the above-mentioned classes employing any person in
10this Commonwealth <-and includes a public body.

11"Fringe benefits or wage supplements." Includes all monetary
12employer payments to provide benefits under any employe benefit
13plan, as defined in section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement
14Income Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq.; as well
15as separation, vacation, holiday, or guaranteed pay;
16reimbursement for expenses; union dues withheld from the
17employes' pay by the employer; and any other amount to be paid
18pursuant to an agreement to the employe, a third party or fund
19for the benefit of employes.

<-20"Public body." The Commonwealth and a political subdivision.
21The term includes any officer, board, commission, agency,
22authority or other instrumentality of the Commonwealth or a
23political subdivision.

24"Secretary." The Secretary of Labor and Industry.

25"Wages." Includes all earnings of an employe, regardless of
26whether determined on time, task, piece, commission or other
27method of calculation. The term "wages" also includes fringe
28benefits or wage supplements whether payable by the employer
29from his funds or from amounts withheld from the employes' pay
30by the employer.

1Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.