Delaware Considers Minimum Wage Increases ($8.75 By June 2016; $15.05 By June 2023)

Tim Holly,  Connolly Gallagher partner and Chairman of the Delaware State Bar Association’s Labor & Employment Subcommittee on Legislative Action, provided the following update today, which local businesses might want to consider.  Note in particular the “Notes From L&E Committee” section below for what actions interested parties can take:

LEGISLATIVE ACTION SUBCOMMITTEE NOTICE

Notice RE SB 39 (Marshall)

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 19 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MINIMUM WAGE.

Synopsis:  This bill provides for an increase of the minimum wage by .50 cents per year for the next 4 years beginning June 1, 2016 and adds a COLA increase thereafter.

URL:  http://www.legis.delaware.gov/LIS/lis148.nsf/vwLegislation/SA+1+to+SB+39/$file/legis.html?open (note this is a link to the amendment).

Actions History:

Jan 21, 2016 – Reported Out of Committee (LABOR & INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits
Nov 30, 2015 – Amendment SA 1 – Introduced and Placed With the Bill in Senate
Mar 19, 2015 – Assigned to Labor & Industrial Relations Committee in Senate

NOTES FROM L&E COMMITTEE:

With the amendment, this proposes a progression of minimum wage up to $15.05 per hour (effective June 1, 2023).  There is a 50 cent increase proposed for June 2016, which would make the minimum wage $8.75.  We understand that this will likely pass the Senate this week.  While the committee is not advocating any particular action on the issue, if anyone is opposed to this, effort would likely be needed in the House to block or dilute this.