One week ago yesterday, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed HB 1267, An Act Concerning Penalties for Failure to Pay Wages, into law. The law provides that employers who refuse to pay a wage claim, falsely deny a wage claim with an intent to not pay, or underpay a claim as a means to harass or defraud the employee are guilty of theft that can be treated as a petty offense, a misdemeanor, or a felony when the amount of unpaid wages exceeds $2,000. Effective next January 1, the bill significantly increases the potential fines that may be assessed for violations by categorizing these wage violations as theft. For example, currently the fine for failure to pay wages is $300 and for failure to pay the minimum wage, $500. Now categorized as theft, the fines can range anywhere from $50 to $1 million, depending on the circumstances of the crime and the value stolen – a significant difference in cost.