Chapter 3 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following new section:-

Section XX. Legislative Employee Living Wage

(a) The minimum annual compensation of full-time entry-level permanent employees of the senate and the house of representatives and joint employees of the general court shall be fifty-five thousand dollars.

(b) The minimum annual compensation of part-time entry-level permanent employees of the senate and the house of representatives and joint employees of the general court shall be a percentage of the compensation set forth in subsection (a) in proportion to hours of employment.

(c) Reasonable and appropriate adjustments shall be made to the compensation tiers applicable to non-entry-level permanent employees of the senate and the house of representatives and joint employees of the general court to account for the minimum compensation set forth in subsections (a) and (b).

(d) As of the first day of each calendar year, the minimum annual compensation set forth in subsections (a) and (b) shall be increased at the same rate as increases in the median household income for the commonwealth for the preceding year, as ascertained by the governor.

(e) This section shall not preclude increases in compensation unrelated to increases in the median household income for the commonwealth.

(f) This section shall not apply to reduce the compensation of any legislative employee in effect prior to the effective date of this act.

(g) This section shall not apply to the members of the general court.