When did this law pass?
I thought it was illegal to hold a payroll check

What do you mean by "holding"

Is it past your normal pay day and they don't give you a check ? Or do you merely mean processing time like you work this week and get paid next week for it?

What law? Without knowing where you we don't know what law. If you want our help you need to be a lot more specific about what happened and what you are referring to.