SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5685

As of February 7, 2003

Title: An act relating to nonemancipated minor minimum wages.

Brief Description: Authorizing a reduced wage rate for nonemancipated minors.

Sponsors: Senators Honeyford, T. Sheldon and Mulliken.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Commerce & Trade: 2/6/03.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & TRADE

Staff: Jennifer Ziegler (786-7316)

Background: Current law requires employers to pay any employee who is 18 years or older the state's adjusted minimum wage rate. "Wage" includes compensation due to an employee by reason of employment, subject to deductions, charges or allowances permitted by the Department of Labor and Industries.

The department must calculate an adjusted minimum wage rate on September 30 of each year. The department must increase the current year's minimum wage rate by the rate of inflation.

The director of the department must establish the minimum wage rate for employees under the age of 18. The department requires that employers pay employees between the ages of 16 and 18 the state's adjusted minimum wage rate. Employers may pay employees who are 14 and 15 years old 85 percent of the state's adjusted minimum wage rate.

The current state adjusted minimum wage rate for employees who are 16 years old or older is $7.01 per hour. The current state minimum wage rate for employees who are 14 or 15 years old is $5.96 per hour.

Summary of Bill: An employer may pay a new employee, who is not an emancipated minor, an initial wage rate of the federal minimum wage rate or 75 percent of the adjusted state minimum wage rate.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.