2014 -- H 8364

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LC005999

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY MINIMUM WAGE

DISCREPANCIES IN THE HOSPITALITY, HOTEL, AND RESTAURANT INDUSTRIES

     Introduced By: Representatives Handy, Cimini, Ajello, Diaz, and Abney

     Date Introduced: June 19, 2014

     Referred To: House Labor

     WHEREAS, Segments of the hospitality, hotel, and restaurant industries' workforce earn

some of our nation's lowest-wages, and have little access to benefits or the possibility of career

advancement; and

     WHEREAS, The federal and state subminimum wage for tipped workers is $2.13, and

has remained at that amount since 1991; and

     WHEREAS, While the dollar differential between the subminimum wage and minimum

wage is supposed to be achieved through the receipt of tips paid to the workers, this is often not

the case, leaving workers, who are mostly women, existing in poverty; and

     WHEREAS, By raising the state's minimum wage from the current $8 to $9 in January of

2015, Rhode Island has recognized that this increase will vastly improve the lives of minimum-

wage earners and their families, and boost the state's economy as a whole; and

     WHEREAS, It is essential that all Rhode Islanders are ensured a competitive minimum

wage; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of eight (8) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island House

of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the

Director of the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, or designee; one of whom shall

be the President of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, or designee; one of whom shall be the President

of the Rhode Island Hospitality Association, or designee; one of whom shall be a tipped food

service worker in a Rhode Island restaurant, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and one

of whom shall be a member of a Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, to be appointed by the

Speaker of the House.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

of a legislator, provided that the Majority Leader or the Minority Leader of the political party

which is entitled to the appointment, consents to the member of the general public.

      The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of minimum

wage discrepancies in Rhode Island's hospitality, hotel, and restaurant industries and make

recommendations for legislation and/or regulations and/or enforcement procedures that will

produce a living wage for workers in these industries.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select a chairperson.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters

for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

House of Representatives no later than February 3, 2015, and said commission shall expire on

May 3, 2015.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY MINIMUM WAGE

DISCREPANCIES IN THE HOSPITALITY, HOTEL, AND RESTAURANT INDUSTRIES

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     This resolution would create a eight (8) member special legislative study commission

whose purpose it would be to study minimum wage discrepancies in the hospitality, hotel, and

restaurant industries, and who would report back to the House no later than February 3, 2015, and

whose life would expire on May 3, 2015.

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