5551-S AMH CL REIN 160

SSB 5551 - H COMM AMD

By Committee on Commerce & Labor

   On page 1, beginning on line 9, after "that" strike all text through "economy." on page 1, line 14, and insert "it is in the best interests of the state to examine the impact that changes in the minimum wage have had on workers, businesses, and Washington's economy."

   On page 2, after line 6, insert the following:

   "(3) The extent to which the minimum wage has improved the standard of living for workers in low-wage employment;

   (4) Wage compression or expansion for workers earning wages up to 130 percent of the minimum wage;"

   Renumber the subsections consecutively and correct any internal references accordingly.

   On page 2, line 15, after "industries" strike "over the past seven years" and insert "from 1990 to the present"

   On page 2, beginning on line 18, strike all of subsection (6)

   Renumber the subsections consecutively and correct any internal references accordingly.

   On page 2, beginning on line 25, strike all of subsection (8) and insert "(8) Whether there is any correlation between changes in the state minimum wage and the state unemployment rate.”

   On page 2, line 30, after "laws" strike "over the last five years" and insert "from 1990 to the present"

EFFECT:

Modifies legislative findings to specify that it is in the state's best interests to examine the impact that changes in the minimum wage have had (rather than that the level of the state's minimum wage is the subject of debate and controversy, and that the effects and role of the state's minimum wage are disputed).

Modifies the elements of the study by adding the following:

•         the extent to which the minimum wage has improved the standard of living for low-wage workers;

•         wage compression or expansion for certain low-wage workers; and

•         the correlation, if any, between changes in the state minimum wage and the state unemployment rate.

Modifies the elements of the study by deleting the following:

•         the differences in economic activity attributed to minimum wage increases; and

•         the impact of the minimum wage on state unemployment.

Makes "1990 to the present" the time frame for two elements of the study (rather than "over the past seven years" for jobs available in industries and occupations in which the minimum wage is paid, and "over the last five years" for actions taken by other states regarding their minimum wage laws).