Bill > S1024

This bill establishes a living wage for employees of large retail stores and fast food chains by amending existing state law. It defines "fast food or big box retail employer" as entities employing 200 or more such workers in the state, including those working through contractors, and also covers fast food franchisors and franchisees that collectively employ 200 or more workers. A "fast food or big box retail employee" is defined as anyone working on the premises of these establishments, including those employed via temporary agencies or cleaning/security contractors. A "fast food restaurant" is characterized by a limited menu, quick preparation, and disposable packaging, while a "big box retail store" is a retail business with a sales area of 25,000 square feet or more. The bill declares it against public policy to pay an "oppressive and unreasonable wage," and for these specific employers, a wage below $12.00 per hour is presumed to be oppressive, with this minimum wage increasing to $13.50 per hour on January 1, 2017, and then to $15.00 per hour on January 1, 2018, though it must always be at least $0.50 higher than the federal minimum wage. These provisions, excluding the wage increases, take effect on January 1, 2016.