S-4273.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6478

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1996 Regular Session

By Senators Franklin, Goings, Smith, Quigley, Fraser, Thibaudeau and Kohl

Read first time 01/16/96.  Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce & Trade.

Increasing the state minimum wage.

    AN ACT Relating to the state minimum wage; and amending RCW 49.46.020.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 49.46.020 and 1993 c 309 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees who has reached the age of eighteen years wages at a rate of not less than four dollars and ninety cents per hour.

    (2)(a) Beginning January 1, 1997, the applicable minimum wage rate under subsection (1) of this section shall be five dollars and forty cents per hour.

(b) Beginning January 1, 1998, the applicable minimum wage rate under subsection (1) of this section shall be five dollars and ninety cents per hour.

(c) Beginning January 1, 1999, the applicable minimum wage rate under subsection (1) of this section shall be six dollars and forty cents per hour.

(d) Beginning January 1, 2000, the applicable minimum wage rate under subsection (1) of this section shall be six dollars and ninety cents per hour.

(e) Beginning on July 1, 2000, the applicable minimum wage rate under subsection (1) of this section shall be determined under this subsection (2)(e).  On June 1, 2000, and on each June 1st thereafter, the department of labor and industries shall calculate an adjusted minimum wage rate to reflect the percentage change in the consumer price index, as follows:  The index for the calendar year preceding the year in which the June calculation is made, to be known as "calendar year A," is divided by the index for the calendar year preceding calendar year A, and the resulting ratio is multiplied by the minimum wage rate in effect on the June 1st on which the respective calculation is made.  The adjusted minimum wage rate shall be calculated to the nearest cent and shall take effect on July 1st following the calculation.  For the purposes of this subsection, "index" means the same as the definition in RCW 2.12.037(1).

(3) The director shall by regulation establish the minimum wage for employees under the age of eighteen years.

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