2012 -- H 7396

=======

LC01140

=======

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

____________

A N A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- MINIMUM WAGES

     

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Bennett, Guthrie, McNamara, Handy, and Lima

     Date Introduced: February 02, 2012

     Referred To: House Labor

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1-1

     SECTION 1. Section 28-12-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-12 entitled "Minimum

1-2

Wages" is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-3

     28-12-3. Minimum wages. -- (a) Every employer shall pay to each of his or her

1-4

employees: commencing July 1, 1999, at least the minimum wage of five dollars and sixty five

1-5

cents ($5.65) per hour. Commencing September 1, 2000, the minimum wage is six dollars and

1-6

fifteen cents ($6.15) per hour.

1-7

      (b) Commencing January 1, 2004, the minimum wage is six dollars and seventy-five

1-8

cents ($6.75) per hour.

1-9

      (c) Commencing March 1, 2006, the minimum wage is seven dollars and ten cents

1-10

($7.10) per hour.

1-11

      (d) Commencing January 1, 2007, the minimum wage is seven dollars and forty cents

1-12

($7.40) per hour.

1-13

     (e) Commencing January 1, 2013, the minimum wage is seven dollars and seventy-five

1-14

cents ($7.75) per hour.

1-15

     (f) Commencing January 1, 2014, and on each January 1st thereafter, the department of

1-16

labor and training shall calculate an adjusted minimum wage rate to maintain employee

1-17

purchasing power by increasing the current year’s minimum wage rate by the rate of inflation.

1-18

The adjusted minimum wage rate shall be calculated to the nearest cent using the consumer price

1-19

index for urban wage earners and clerical workers. CPI-W, or a successor index, for the previous

1-20

year as calculated for the northeast region by the United States department of labor. Each adjusted

2-1

minimum wage rate so calculated shall take effect on July 1st of the proceeding year.

2-2

     (g) The Rhode Island minimum wage rate automatically increases to fifteen cents ($.15)

2-3

above the rate set in the Fair Labor Standards Act if the federal minimum wage equals or

2-4

becomes higher than the state minimum.

2-5

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

     

=======

LC01140

=======

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- MINIMUM WAGES

***

3-1

     This act would raise the minimum wage commencing January 1, 2013 to seven dollars

3-2

and seventy-five cents ($7.75) per hour, and would require adjustments by the department of

3-3

labor and training commencing January 1, 2014.

3-4

     This act would take effect upon passage.

     

=======

LC01140

=======

H7396