Paper paychecks for employees are in New Hampshire to stay, at least for now, if the outgoing House Labor Committee has anything to say about it.

The Committee voted unanimously Oct. 13 to reject Senate Bill 209, which would allow employers to pay employees through a debit card, whether their employees want one or not. The panel instead wants to stick with current law, which requires that employers pay by check if their workers insist on it.

“The problem I have are the fees. If I have to pay a dollar every time you want to use the card — well, every dollar counts,” said committee chair Will Infantine, R-Manchester.

One financial institution had previously assured committee members that its current practice is to let someone make a one-time withdrawal of cash without charging a fee, but that language wasn’t in the bill.

Even if it was, those who would use the card —those without bank accounts that can accept direct deposit — won’t be the most sophisticated consumer, said Brian Sullivan, D-Grantham.

“They are in dire straits” and might not realize the fees involved.

The solution, he said, is to leave things alone and allow the employee to choose. “I have no problem with a payroll card if the employee wants it,” he added.

Infantine also didn’t think the issue was important enough to keep pushing the bill.

— BOB SANDERS