Definition of employee modification under the Minnesota Fair Labor Standards Act and whistleblower protections to explicitly include incarcerated people

This bill reclassifies incarcerated individuals in Minnesota correctional facilities as employees under state labor laws, thereby extending protections such as minimum wage, overtime pay, and whistleblower rights to them. By explicitly including these individuals in the definitions of "employee" within the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Public Employee Labor Relations Act, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the legislation ensures they are covered by existing labor standards. The measure also mandates a report to track the implementation of these changes, aiming to formalize the labor relationship between the state and its incarcerated workforce.