2014 -- H 7194

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LC003590

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

     RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - MINIMUM WAGES

     Introduced By: Representatives Bennett, Hull, Shekarchi, Slater, and McNamara

     Date Introduced: January 23, 2014

     Referred To: House Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

Wages" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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

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

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

fifteen cents ($6.15) per hour.

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

cents ($6.75) per hour.

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

($7.10) per hour.

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

($7.40) per hour.

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

cents ($7.75) per hour.

      (f) Commencing January 1, 2014, the minimum wage is eight dollars ($8.00) per hour.

     (g) Commencing January 1, 2015, the minimum wage is nine dollars ($9.00) per hour.

     (h) Commencing January 1, 2016, the minimum wage is ten dollars ($10.00) per hour.

     (i) Commencing January 1, 2017, and on January 1 of each year thereafter, the

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

employee purchasing power by increasing the current year's minimum wage rate by the rate of

inflation. The adjusted minimum wage rate shall be calculated to the nearest cent using the

consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers, CPI-W, or a successor index,

for the previous year as calculated for the northeast region by the United States Department of

Labor.

     (j) Under no circumstances shall the state's minimum wage be less than fifteen cents

($.15) more than the federal minimum wage.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

     RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - MINIMUM WAGES

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     This act would gradually increase the minimum hourly wage every year until January 1,

2017 when it would be adjusted using the consumer price index for the northeast region.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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