Amendment ID: S2123-5-R1

Redraft Amendment 5

Minimum Wage

Mr. Tarr moves to amend the bill in Section 2, by striking the figure “9.00” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “8.75”;

and moves to further amend the bill, in Section 3, by striking the figure “10.00” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- “9.50”;

and moves to further amend the bill by striking Section 4 in its entirety;

and moves to further amend the bill by inserting the following new sections at the end there of:-

“SECTION _The minimum wage shall be reviewed every two years beginning July 1, 2016, by the secretary of administration and finance, in consultation with the secretary of housing and economic development, and the secretary of labor and workforce development, to recommend to the governor and the general court any changes to the minimum wage, effective January 1st. Such recommendations shall consider but not be limited to the following factors: the rate of inflation, the minimum wage in other states, the commonwealth’s competitiveness, the status of the commonwealth’s labor market, the commonwealth’s teen unemployment, the effectiveness of increasing the minimum wage in helping the target population and there shall be at least 3 public hearings held in various geographic regions in the commonwealth.

SECTION _.  The secretary of labor and workforce development, in consultation with the secretary of administration and finance and the secretary of housing and economic development, shall study the impact of the minimum wage rate and minimum wage rate increases as they relate to New England City and Town Area’s (NECTAs) and Labor Market Areas (LMAs) in Massachusetts.  The study shall analyze the cost of living in said NECTAs and LMAs and the effective minimum wage rate adjusted for the cost of living in said NECTAs and LMAs, detailing the impact of minimum wage rates on employment, the ability of employers to hire additional employees, and the effectiveness of the minimum wage rate at reducing poverty and helping financial independence.  The report, together with any legislative recommendations, shall be filed electronically with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate and the joint committee on labor and workforce development not later than May 15, 2015.

SECTION _.  There is hereby established a living wage commission to address poverty reduction and ensuring all workers are provided with a wage allowing them to live a healthy and financially independent lifestyle.  The commission shall consist of the following members or their appointees: the secretary of labor and workforce development, the secretary of administration and finance, the secretary of housing and economic development, the senate president, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate minority leader and the minority leader of the house of representatives. The commission shall issue a report on an appropriate wage rate to ensure that employees can afford the cost of living in their geographic area and a healthy and financially independent lifestyle.  Said report shall be submitted to the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate and filed not later than June 15, 2015.

SECTION _. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, following any increase in the minimum wage the secretary of labor and workforce development shall report on the impact of said increase on employment in the commonwealth, impacts on businesses, particularly small businesses in the commonwealth, and success of increasing the minimum wage in helping the target population.  Said report shall be submitted to the clerks of the house and senate, and the joint committee on labor and workforce development within one year of an increase in the minimum wage.”

and moves to further amend the bill by striking Section 43 in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following Section:-

“SECTION 43.  Sections 6 and 7 shall take effect on July 1, 2014.”;

and moves to further amend the bill, in Section 44, by striking the words “July 1, 2015” and inserting in place thereof the words “January 1, 2016”;

and moves to further amend the bill by striking Section 45 in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following Section:-

“SECTION 45.  Section 5 shall take effect on July 1, 2016.”;

and moves to further amend the bill by inserting at the end thereof the following new Section:-

“SECTION__.  Section 2 shall take effect on January 1, 2015.”