SB 725 - This act requires corporations that pay all employees less than $15/hour to give such employees the option to be paid on a weekly basis. Employees must give employers written notice of his or her desire to be paid weekly. This act also gradually raises the minimum wage over a four-year period:
• Beginning January 1, 2017, the minimum wage will be raised from $7.65 to $9.00;
• Beginning January 1, 2018, from $9.00 to $10.00;
• Beginning January 1, 2019, from $10.00 to $11.00; and
• Beginning January 1, 2020, from $11.00 to $12.00.
The minimum tipped wage is also increased from 50% to 60% of the minimum wage.
The act specifies that the cost of living adjustment applies each year regardless of whether the statutory minimum or federal minimum is used.
The penalty for paying lower than minimum wage from the full amount of the wage rate is increased to twice the wage amount as liquidated damages and the statute of limitations for bringing a claim is lengthened from 2 to 3 years.
This act is similar to SB 953 (2016), SB 957 (2016), HB 1453 (2016), HB 1517 (2016), HB 2085 (2016), HB 2359 (2016), SB 215 (2015) and SB 531 (2014).
SCOTT SVAGERA