SB 680 - Under current law, the minimum wage rate is $7.70 per hour. This act increases the rate to $9.00 per hour beginning January 1, 2019, $10.00 per hour beginning January 1, 2020, $11.00 per hour beginning January 1, 2021, and $12.00 per hour beginning January 1, 2022. After the 2022 increase, the minimum wage will increase or decrease annually based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. Current law provides that any individual employed by a retail or service business whose annual gross volume sales made or business done is less than $500,000 is exempt from the minimum wage requirements. This act modifies that provision by inserting an annual adjustment to the $500,000 threshold based upon the mean percentage share of the gross state product held by the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry and the accommodation and food services industry, as such information is published through the Department of Economic Development.
This act further exempts employers employing less than fifteen employees during each calendar week within the current calendar year and the previous calendar year from the minimum wage requirements.
Under current law, any employer which violates the minimum wage laws is liable to the affected employee for the full amount of the wage rate plus an additional equal amount as liquidated damages. This act modifies the amount of liquidated damages to be equal to twice the amount of unpaid wages.
Under current law, the statute of limitations for bringing an action to collect deficient wages is two years. This act extends that to three years.
This act is effective beginning January 1, 2019.
SCOTT SVAGERA