SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5283

As of February 4, 2003

Title: An act relating to the training and minor wage rate.

Brief Description: Establishing a training and minor wage rate.

Sponsors: Senators T. Sheldon, Honeyford, Hargrove, Mulliken, Doumit, Carlson, Sheahan, Rasmussen, Hale, Oke, Shin and Stevens.

Brief History:

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

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & TRADE

Staff: Jennifer Ziegler (786-7316)

Background: Current law requires the Department of Labor and Industries to 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. Employers must pay any employee who is 18 years old or older the adjusted minimum wage rate.

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 must pay employees who are 14 and 15 years old 85 percent of the state's adjusted minimum wage rate.

The current state 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: The minimum wage rate for employees under the age of 18 who have been employed for less than 120 days is 80 percent of the state minimum wage rate.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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