HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2253

BYRepresentatives Spanel, Jacobsen, Wineberry, Wang, Prentice, Vekich, Braddock and Brekke

Repealing exemption from the state minimum wage for students at institutions of higher education.

House Committe on Commerce & Labor

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (9)

      Signed by Representatives Vekich, Chair; Cole, Vice Chair; Jones, R. King, Leonard, Prentice, Smith, Walker and Wolfe.

House Staff:Chris Cordes (786-7117)

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (28)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; H. Sommers, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Republican Member; Youngsman, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Appelwick, Bowman, Braddock, Brekke, Brough, Dorn, Doty, Ebersole, Ferguson, Hine, Inslee, May, McLean, Nealey, Padden, Peery, Rust, Sayan, Spanel, Sprenkle, Valle, Wang and Wineberry.

House Staff:      Sherie Story (786-7142)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 6, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The state minimum wage act, as amended by Initiative 518 in 1989, establishes the adult state minimum wage at $4.25 and authorizes a youth state minimum wage for employees under 18. College students who are employed by the institution of higher education at which they are enrolled are exempt from these provisions.

SUMMARY:

The provision is repealed that exempts students enrolled in and employed by an institution of higher education from the state minimum wage act.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Commerce & Labor)  Representative Spanel, prime sponsor; Clark Sites and Scott LaFramboise, Washington Student Lobby.

(Appropriations)  Clark Sites and Scott LaFramboise, Washington Student Lobby.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Commerce & Labor)  No one.

(Appropriations)  No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Commerce & Labor)  Students should be paid the same wage as other citizens who perform the same work.  Even when paid the minimum wage, college students have difficulty meeting their expenses.

(Appropriations)  Students should be paid the same wage as other citizens who perform the same work.  Even when paid the minimum wage, college students have difficulty meeting their expenses.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Commerce & Labor)  None.

(Appropriations)  None.