Expands wage and hour law good-faith violation defense to DOLWD employee interpretations; establishes procedure for employer to obtain opinion from DOLWD on overtime obligations.

This bill expands a defense for employers accused of wage law violations by allowing them to rely on interpretations from any authorized employee of New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), not just top officials. It also creates a formal process for employers to request written opinions from DOLWD about their overtime obligations, requiring a written response within two weeks of a request. The bill directly affects employers who face wage and hour claims, giving them a clearer path to seek guidance before potential violations occur. This change responds to a court case where an employer couldn't use a lower-level DOLWD employee's interpretation as a defense.