Bill > S996

This bill aims to boost the Commonwealth's economy by increasing the minimum wage and adjusting how overtime is calculated. Specifically, it raises the minimum wage from $11.00 to $12.00 per hour, with future annual adjustments tied to the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U), a measure of inflation published by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bill also modifies the overtime pay rate, changing it from $0.50 to $1.50 for hours worked beyond the standard 40-hour work week, and clarifies that certain commission, bonus, or incentive pay based on sales or production will not be included when calculating regular and overtime wages. Additionally, it removes the exclusion for "agricultural and farm work" from certain wage regulations and revises how the cash wage is determined for tipped employees, requiring it to be at least 70 percent of the prevailing minimum wage. These changes, with the exception of the initial minimum wage increase, are set to take effect on January 1, 2018.