1355 AMH DENT TANG 029

HB 1355 - H AMD 85

By Representative Dent

SCOPE AND OBJECT 03/03/2015

On page 2, line 29, after "(3)" insert "(a) The minimum hourly wage rate applicable to individuals employed in agricultural labor shall be the minimum hourly wage rate that is in effect as of December 31, 2015, and must be adjusted as required by (b) of this subsection.

(b) On September 30, 2017, and on each following September 30th, the department of labor and industries shall calculate an adjusted minimum wage rate for individuals employed in agricultural labor, as required in (a) of this subsection. The adjusted minimum wage rate shall be calculated to the nearest cent using the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers, CPI-W, or a successor index, for the twelve months prior to each September 1st as calculated by the United States department of labor. Each adjusted minimum wage rate calculated under this subsection takes effect on the following January 1st.

(i) On a farm, in the employ of any person, in connection with the cultivation of the soil, or in connection with raising or harvesting any agricultural or horticultural commodity, including raising, shearing, feeding, caring for, training, and management of livestock, bees, poultry, and furbearing animals and wild life, or in the employ of the owner or tenant or other operator of a farm in connection with the operation, management, conservation, improvement, or maintenance of such farm and its tools and equipment; or

(ii) In packing, packaging, grading, storing, or delivering to storage, or to market or to a carrier for transportation to market, any agricultural or horticultural commodity if such service is performed as an incident to ordinary farming operations.

(4)"

EFFECT: Provides that the minimum hourly wage increase does not apply to individuals employed in agricultural labor (the rate applicable to those individuals would be the same as current law). Provides a definition of "agricultural labor."

--- END ---