An Act To Ensure Fair Wages
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1697
Committee Amendment CA_A_S452 (Senate)
Amends: 26 MRSA §663

SECOND RRr.ULAR SESSION 
Majority 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " to S.P. 604, L.D. 1697, Bill, "An Act To 
Ensure Fair Wages" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 2 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 2. 26 MRSA §663, sub-§3, ~, as amended by PL 2007, c. 22, §1, IS 
repealed.' 
Amend the bill 111 section 4 by striking out all of subsection I and inserting the 
following: 
'1. Minimum wage. The minimum hourly wage is $6.50 per hour. Starting October 
1, 2006, the minimum hourly wage is $6.75 per hour. 
Starting October 1, 2007, the 
minimum hourly wage is $7.00 per hour. Starting October 1, 2008, the minimum hourly 
wage is $7.35 per hour. Starting October 1, 2009, the minimum hourly wage is $7.70 per 
hour. 
Starting October 1, 2010, the minimum hourly wage is $8.00 per hour. 
On 
September 30, 2010 and on September 30th of each year thereafter, the Department of 
Labor shall calculate an adjusted minimum wage rate to maintain employee purchasing 
power. The adjusted minimum wage must be calculated to the nearest cent using the 
Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, CPI-W, or a 
successor index, for the 12 months prior to each September 1 st, as calculated by the 
United States Department of Labor. Each adjusted minimum wage rate so calculated 
takes effect January I st of the following year. If the highest federal minimum wage is 
increased in excess of the minimum wage in effect under this section, the minimum wage 
under this section is increased to the same amount, effective on the same date as the 
increase in the federal minimum wage, but in no case may the minimum wage exceed the 
minimum wage otherwise in effect under this section by more than $1 per hour.' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 5. 
Amend the bill by inserting before the summary the following: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~~'_" it "i-
1 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'A "to S.P. 604, L.D. 1697 
'Sec. 10. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
LABOR, DEPARTMENT OF 
Administration - Bureau of Labor Standards 0158 
Initiative: Appropriates ongoing funds for one Labor and Safety Inspector position and 
related All Other to provide additional support for the expected increase in the number of 
inspections and investigations associated with the removal of several major exemptions 
from the minimum wage and overtime provisions. 
GENERAL FUND 
2007-08 
2008-09 
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE 
0.000 
1.000 
COUNT 
Personal Services 
$0 
$49,837 
All Other 
$0 
$5,000 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$0 
$54,837 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the majority report of the Joint Standing Committee on 
Labor, does the following. 
I. It lessens the increase in the minimum wage proposed in the bill. Rather than 
raising the minimum wage to $7.70 per hour in 2008 and to $8.40 per hour in 2009, the 
amendment raises the minimum wage to $7.35 per hour in 2008, to $7.70 per hour in 
2009 and to $8.00 per hour in 2010. 
2. It amends the date to begin the calculation of the adjusted minimum wage rate 
using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, CPI-W, 
from September 30, 2009 to September 30,2010. 
3. It removes the bill's proposed changes to the tip credit an employer may consider 
as part of the wages of a service employee. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Revised: 0311 0/08 frac:.. 
LD 1697 
LR 226(02) 
An Act To Ensure Fair Wages 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'A " 
Committee: Labor 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
General Fund 
Revenue 
General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
2007-08 
$0 
$0 
$0 
2008-09 
($42,963) 
$54,837 
$97,800 
Projections 
2009-10 
($37,513) 
$60,287 
$97,800 
Projections 
2010-11 
($34,659) 
$63,141 
$97,800 
This bill includes a General Fund appropriation of$54,837 in fiscal year 2008-09 to the Bureau of Labor Standards 
within the Department of Labor for one Labor and Safety Inspector position and related All Other costs associated 
with providing support for additional inspections and investigations that may be required by the removal of 
exemptions from the minimum wage and overtime provisions. 
This legislation also increases the amount of fines and penalites that may be assessed on employers who violate the 
minimum wage and overtime laws and provides that 90% is be paid to the State and 10% to the affected employee. 
The increase in General Fund revenue is estimated to be $97,800 annually, beginning in fiscal year 2008-09. 
LR0226(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of 1