HB 295/SB 331, sponsored by Delegate Busch and Senator Miller, respectively, propose to raise the minimum wage to certain dollar amounts on certain dates and tie future increases to the Consumer Price Index, making the increases automatic after July 1, 2017.

(C) (1) The STATE MINIMUM WAGE RATE IS:
(I) FOR THE 12–MONTH PERIOD BEGINNING JULY 1, 2014, $8.20 PER HOUR;
(II) FOR THE 12–MONTH PERIOD BEGINNING JULY 1, 2015, 28 $9.15 PER HOUR;
(III) FOR THE 12–MONTH PERIOD BEGINNING JULY 1, 2016, $10.10 PER HOUR; AND
(IV) FOR THE 12–MONTH PERIOD BEGINNING JULY 1, 2017, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT 12–MONTH PERIOD, THE RATE DETERMINED AND ANNOUNCED BY THE COMMISSIONER UNDER PARAGRAPH (2)(II) OF THIS SUBSECTION.

(II) BEGINNING ON MARCH 1, 2017, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT MARCH 1, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DETERMINE AND ANNOUNCE:
1. THE ANNUAL PERCENTAGE GROWTH, IF ANY, IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX BASED ON THE MOST RECENT 12–MONTH PERIOD  FOR WHICH DATA IS AVAILABLE ON MARCH 1; AND
2. THE STATE MINIMUM WAGE RATE EFFECTIVE FOR THE 12–MONTH PERIOD BEGINNING ON THE FOLLOWING JULY 1.

No longer will politicians be accountable for any change in the wage as it will be determined an announced by a bureaucrat, using a set formula.

There is more to this 9 page bill (e.g. including more employees as subject to minimum wage) - please read the bill for a full picture.

Send email to the House Economic Matters Committee

(Click the send email icon now to pre-populate all the committee members’ email addresses in your default email client.)

Send email to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee

(Click the send email icon now to pre-populate all the committee members’ email addresses in your default email client.)

Print PDF