2014 -- S 2249

========

LC003818

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR - MINIMUM WAGES

     Introduced By: Senators Lynch, Miller, Metts, Pearson, and Satchell

     Date Introduced: January 30, 2014

     Referred To: Senate 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 each January 1 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. Each adjusted minimum wage rate so calculated shall take effect on July 1 of the preceding

year.

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

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

becomes higher than the state minimum.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC003818

========

LC003818 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR - MINIMUM WAGES

***

     This act would provide an increase in the minimum wage and would establish a

framework for calculating the Rhode Island minimum wage from 2017 forward.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC003818

========

LC003818 - Page 3 of 3