Bill > H3809

This bill amends South Carolina's labor laws to establish a state minimum wage of seventeen dollars per hour, effective January 1, 2027. The bill requires the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation to notify all employers about the new minimum wage before November 1, 2026, and specifies that only individuals covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act are eligible. The legislation makes it illegal for employers to discriminate against or retaliate against workers who file complaints or inform others about minimum wage requirements. Employees who experience violations can bring civil actions to recover unpaid wages, economic damages, attorney's fees, and potentially receive reinstatement or injunctive relief. The Attorney General is empowered to enforce the law through civil actions, with the potential to seek injunctive relief and impose fines of $1,000 per violation. The bill establishes a five-year statute of limitations for such actions and allows these cases to be brought as class action lawsuits under state law. The act will take effect upon the Governor's approval.