Authorizing Electronic Payments of Civil Money Penalties

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In this final rule, the Department of Labor (Department) revises its regulations issued pursuant to the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA), the H-2A provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (H-2A), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and the Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) governing the payment of civil money penalties (CMPs) assessed by the Wage and Hour Division (WHD). The regulatory revisions expand the CMP payment methods beyond the options specified in the current text by allowing for the payment of CMPs through an electronic payment alternative, and otherwise amend the regulations to ensure uniform payment instructions. The existing MSPA, H-2A, FLSA, and EPPA regulations require persons assessed a CMP under those statutory schemes to remit payment in person or by mail using a certified check or money order. In recognition of modern payment methods, the Department is amending these regulations to allow for payment of the CMPs via an electronic payment alternative, any successor system, or by any additional payment method that the Department may deem acceptable in the future. This action revises the regulatory text in the appropria