Raise the Wage Act of 2021

To provide for increases in the Federal minimum wage, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Raise the Wage Act of 2021 2. Minimum wage increases (a) In general Section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1) (1) except as otherwise provided in this section, not less than— (A) $9.50 an hour, beginning on the effective date under section 7 of the Raise the Wage Act of 2021 (B) $11.00 an hour, beginning 1 year after such effective date; (C) $12.50 an hour, beginning 2 years after such effective date; (D) $14.00 an hour, beginning 3 years after such effective date; (E) $15.00 an hour, beginning 4 years after such effective date; and (F) beginning on the date that is 5 years after such effective date, and annually thereafter, the amount determined by the Secretary under subsection (h); . (b) Determination based on increase in the median hourly wage of all employees Section 6 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 206 (h) (1) Not later than each date that is 90 days before a new minimum wage determined under subsection (a)(1)(F) is to take effect, the Secretary shall determine the minimum wage to be in effect under this subsection for each period described in subsection (a)(1)(F). The wage determined under this subsection for a year shall be— (A) not less than the amount in effect under subsection (a)(1) on the date of such determination; (B) increased from such amount by the annual percentage increase, if any, in the median hourly wage of all employees as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics; and (C) rounded up to the nearest multiple of $0.05. (2) In calculating the annual percentage increase in the median hourly wage of all employees for purposes of paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary, through the Bureau of Labor Statistics, shall compile data on the hourly wages of all employees to determine such a median hourly wage and compare such median hourly wage for the most recent year for which data are available with the median hourly wage determined for the preceding year. . 3. Tipped employees (a) Base minimum wage for tipped employees and tips retained by employees Section 3(m)(2)(A)(i) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 203(m)(2)(A)(i) (i) the cash wage paid such employee, which for purposes of such determination shall be not less than— (I) for the 1-year period beginning on the effective date under section 7 of the Raise the Wage Act of 2021, $4.95 an hour; (II) for each succeeding 1-year period until the hourly wage under this clause equals the wage in effect under section 6(a)(1) for such period, an hourly wage equal to the amount determined under this clause for the preceding year, increased by the lesser of— (aa) $2.00; or (bb) the amount necessary for the wage in effect under this clause to equal the wage in effect under section 6(a)(1) for such period, rounded up to the nearest multiple of $0.05; and (III) for each succeeding 1-year period after the increase made pursuant to subclause (II), the minimum wage in effect under section 6(a)(1); and . (b) Tips retained by employees Section 3(m)(2)(A) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 203(m)(2)(A) (1) in the second sentence of the matter following clause (ii), by striking of this subsection, and all tips received by such employee have been retained by the employee of this subsection. Any employee shall have the right to retain any tips received by such employee (2) by adding at the end the following: An employer shall inform each employee of the right and exception provided under the preceding sentence. (c) Scheduled repeal of separate minimum wage for tipped employees (1) Tipped employees Section 3(m)(2)(A) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 203(m)(2)(A) In determining the wage an employer is required to pay a tipped employee, of this subsection. The wage required to be paid to a tipped employee shall be the wage set forth in section 6(a)(1). (2) Publication of notice Subsection (i) of section 6 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 206 or in accordance with subclause (II) or (III) of section 3(m)(2)(A)(i) (3) Effective date The amendments made by paragraphs (1) and (2) shall take effect on the date that is 1 day after the date on which the hourly wage under subclause (III) of section 3(m)(2)(A)(i) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 203(m)(2)(A)(i) (d) Penalties Section 16 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 216 (1) in the third sentence of subsection (b), by inserting or used kept (2) in the second sentence of subsection (e)(2), by inserting or used kept 4. Newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old (a) Base minimum wage for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old Section 6(g)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 206(g)(1) a wage which is not less than $4.25 an hour. a wage at a rate that is not less than— (A) for the 1-year period beginning on the effective date under section 7 of the Raise the Wage Act of 2021, $6.00 an hour; (B) for each succeeding 1-year period until the hourly wage under this paragraph equals the wage in effect under section 6(a)(1) for such period, an hourly wage equal to the amount determined under this paragraph for the preceding year, increased by the lesser of— (i) $1.75; or (ii) the amount necessary for the wage in effect under this paragraph to equal the wage in effect under section 6(a)(1) for such period, rounded up to the nearest multiple of $0.05; and (C) for each succeeding 1-year period after the increase made pursuant to subparagraph (B)(ii), the minimum wage in effect under section 6(a)(1). . (b) Scheduled repeal of separate minimum wage for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old (1) In general Section 6(g) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 206(g) (2) Publication of notice Subsection (i) of section 6 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 206 or subparagraph (B) or (C) of subsection (g)(1), (3) Effective date The repeal and amendment made by paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively, shall take effect on the date that is 1 day after the date on which the hourly wage under subparagraph (C) of section 6(g)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 206(g)(1) 5. Publication of notice Section 6 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 206 (i) Not later than 60 days prior to the effective date of any increase in the required wage determined under subsection (a)(1) or subparagraph (B) or (C) of subsection (g)(1), or in accordance with subclause (II) or (III) of section 3(m)(2)(A)(i) or section 14(c)(1)(A), the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register and on the website of the Department of Labor a notice announcing each increase in such required wage. . 6. Promoting economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities (a) Wages (1) Transition to fair wages for individuals with disabilities Subparagraph (A) of section 14(c)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 214(c)(1) (A) at a rate that equals or exceeds, for each year, the greater of— (i) (I) $5.00 an hour, beginning on the effective date under section 7 of the Raise the Wage Act of 2021 (II) $7.50 an hour, beginning 1 year after such effective date; (III) $10.00 an hour, beginning 2 years after such effective date; (IV) $12.50 an hour, beginning 3 years after such effective date; (V) $15.00 an hour, beginning 4 years after such effective date; and (VI) the wage rate in effect under section 6(a)(1), beginning 5 years after such effective date; or (ii) if applicable, the wage rate in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Raise the Wage Act of 2021 for the employment, under a special certificate issued under this paragraph, of the individual for whom the wage rate is being determined under this subparagraph, . (2) Prohibition on new special certificates; sunset Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 214(c) (6) Prohibition on new special certificates Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Secretary shall not issue a special certificate under this subsection to an employer that was not issued a special certificate under this subsection before the date of enactment of the Raise the Wage Act of 2021. (7) Sunset Beginning on the day after the date on which the wage rate described in paragraph (1)(A)(i)(VI) takes effect, the authority to issue special certificates under paragraph (1) shall expire, and no special certificates issued under paragraph (1) shall have any legal effect. (8) Transition assistance Upon request, the Secretary shall provide— (A) technical assistance and information to employers issued a special certificate under this subsection for the purposes of— (i) assisting such employers to comply with this subsection, as amended by the Raise the Wage Act of 2021; and (ii) ensuring continuing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities receiving a special minimum wage rate under this subsection; and (B) information to individuals employed at a special minimum wage rate under this subsection, which may include referrals to Federal or State entities with expertise in competitive integrated employment. . (3) Effective date The amendments made by this subsection shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act. (b) Publication of notice (1) Amendment Subsection (i) of section 6 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 206 or section 14(c)(1)(A), (2) Effective date The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on the day after the date on which the wage rate described in paragraph (1)(A)(i)(VI) of section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 214(c) 7. General effective date Except as otherwise provided in this Act, or the amendments made by this Act, this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the first day of the third month that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: Raise the Wage Act of 2021 This bill increases the federal minimum wage for regular employees over a 5-year period, for tipped employees, and for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old. The bill sets forth a schedule of annual increases in the federal minimum wage for individuals with disabilities. The Department of Labor shall no longer issue special certificates for the payment of subminimum wages to such individuals after the final wage increase under this bill for such individuals takes effect. Labor shall provide, upon request, technical assistance and information to employers to (1) help them transition their practices to comply with wage increases and other requirements under this bill for individuals with disabilities, and (2) ensure continuing employment opportunities for such individuals. The bill eliminates the separate minimum wage requirements for tipped, newly hired, and disabled employees. After a specified period, these employees shall be paid the same minimum wage as regular employees. Labor must publish any increase in the minimum wage in the Federal Register and on its website 60 days before it takes effect.