2019 -- S 0374

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- MINIMUM WAGE--GRATUITIES

     Introduced By: Senators Goldin, Goodwin, Quezada, Euer, and Murray

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 28-12-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-12 entitled "Minimum

Wages" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     28-12-5. Employees receiving gratuities.

     (a) Every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees who are engaged in any

work or employment in which gratuities have customarily and usually constituted a part of his or

her weekly income, the rate as provided by §§ 28-12-3 and 28-12-3.1.

     (b) Allowance for gratuities as part of the hourly wage rate for restaurants, hotels, and

other industries, except taxicabs and limited public motor vehicles, shall be an amount equal to

the applicable minimum rates as provided by §§ 28-12-3 and 28-12-3.1 less two dollars and

eighty-nine cents ($2.89) per hour. "Gratuities" means voluntary monetary compensation received

directly or indirectly by the employee for services rendered.

     (c) Each employer desiring to deduct for gratuities as part of the minimum rates as

provided in §§ 28-12-3 and 28-12-3.1 wages paid to an employee shall provide substantial

evidence that the amount shall be set out in the formula in subsection (b) of this section; however,

the cash wage shall not be less than two dollars and eighty-nine cents ($2.89) per hour; provided,

however, that commencing January 1, 2016, the cash wage shall increase by fifty cents ($.50) to

an amount not less than three dollars and thirty-nine cents ($3.39) per hour; provided further, that

commencing January 1, 2017, the cash wage shall increase by fifty cents ($.50) to an amount not

less than three dollars and eighty-nine cents ($3.89) per hour.

     (1) Commencing January, 1, 2020, the cash wage shall not be less than four dollars and

fifty cents ($4.50) per hour;

     (2) Commencing January, 1, 2021, the cash wage shall not be less than six dollars ($6.00)

per hour;

     (3) Commencing January, 1, 2022, the cash wage shall not be less than seven dollars and

fifty cents ($7.50) per hour;

     (4) Commencing January, 1, 2023, the cash wage shall not be less than nine dollars

($9.00) per hour;

     (5) Commencing January, 1, 2024, the cash wage shall not be less than the minimum

hourly wage provided in § 28-12-3, and gratuities received by employees shall be in addition to,

and not a component of, the minimum hourly wage provided in § 28-12-3.

     (d) The director of labor and training shall notify employers concerning what type of

proof shall be accepted as substantial evidence for the purpose of this subsection. Employees

involved shall be entitled to a hearing on the question of the amount of deduction if they so

desire.

     (e) In cases where wages are figured by the employer on an incentive basis in such a

manner that an employee of reasonable average ability earns at least the minimum wage

established by §§ 28-12-3 and 28-12-3.1, it shall be taken that the employer has complied with

this statute. It shall be of no concern to the director of labor and training how the employer arrives

at its wage scale so long as it is not unreasonable in its demands on the employee.

     (f) Where, in the case of the employment of a full-time student who has not attained his

or her nineteenth (19th) birthday engaged in the activities of a nonprofit association or

corporation, whose aims and objectives are religious, educational, librarial, or community service

in nature, the employer-employee relationship does exist, the employer shall pay to each such

employee wages at a rate of not less than ninety percent (90%) of the minimum wage as specified

in § 28-12-3. In case of any conflict between provisions of this section and those of § 28-12-3.1,

the provisions of § 28-12-3.1 shall govern.

     (g) Any employer who pays a minimum hourly wage sufficient to meet or exceed the

requirements of this section is not required to alter their wages.

     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 WAGE--GRATUITIES

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     This act would incrementally increase from the current three dollars and eighty-nine cents

($3.89) per hour subminimum wage for tipped workers to nine dollars ($9.00) per hour on

January 1, 2023. Starting on January 1, 2024, the minimum hourly wage for tipped workers

would be equal to the state's regular minimum hourly wage.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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