Pennsylvania’s top law enforcement officer was busy this past week as part of two different groups issuing letters to protect vulnerable residents.
First, Josh Shapiro and a coalition of 21 other Attorneys General issued a letter to the federal Department of Labor opposing the elimination of a rule that protects tipped workers. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers can pay workers a fraction of minimum wage as long as 80% of their time is spent doing work which allows them the opportunity to collect tips. A new proposal would eliminate this rule and result in an erosion of wages according to Shapiro.
Another coalition of 25 State Attorneys General including Shapiro sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission asking for stronger rules about the collection of personal information from children under 13 years old by websites, mobile apps, and digital marketing companies. Shapiro argues that the privacy of those children is being taken away because the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act is out of date and does not include coverage of new technology like faceprints that unlock cell phones, health data from smart watches, and genetic information.
