Bill > H3675

This bill amends the Code of Laws of South Carolina to establish a state minimum wage of $17 per hour, effective January 1, 2022. It requires the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation to notify employers of this minimum wage before November 1, 2021. The bill makes it unlawful for an employer to fail to pay the state minimum wage or to retaliate against an employee for enforcing the law. It provides remedies for violations, including the ability to file a civil action and recover unpaid back wages, economic damages, and reasonable attorney's fees and costs. The Attorney General can also bring a civil action to enforce the law, seeking injunctive relief and fines. The bill also establishes a five-year statute of limitations for actions brought under this law and allows for class action lawsuits.