An Act To Base the Minimum Wage on a New England State Average and To Restore the Tip Credit
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0831
Committee Amendment CA_A_S210 (Senate)
Amends: 26 MRSA §664

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 277, L.D. 831, Bill, "An Act To Base 
the Minimum Wage on a New England State Average and To Restore the Tip Credit" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Prohibit the Minimum Wage from Exceeding the New England Average' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 26 MRSA §664, sub-§1, as amended by IB 2015, c. 2, §1, is further 
amended to read: 
1. Minimum wage. The minimum hourly wage is $7.50 per hour. Starting January 
1, 2017, the minimum hourly wage is $9.00 per hour; starting January 1, 2018, the 
minimum hourly wage is $10.00 per hour; starting January 1, 2019, the minimum hourly 
wage is $11.00 per hour; and starting January 1, 2020, the minimum hourly wage is 
$12.00 per hour. On January 1, 2021 and each January 1st thereafter, the minimum 
hourly wage then in effect must be increased by the increase, if any, in the cost of living. 
The increase in the cost of living must be measured by the percentage increase, if any, as 
of August of the previous year over the level as of August of the year preceding that year 
in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, CPI-W, for 
the Northeast Region, or its successor index, as published by the United States 
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics or its successor agency, with the amount 
of the minimum wage increase rounded to the nearest multiple of 5¢. Notwithstanding 
this subsection, the minimum wage may not exceed the average minimum wage paid in 
the New England states. as determined by the Commissioner of Labor. 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, and must be increased in 
accordance with this section thereafter.' 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 277, L.D. 831 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the minority report of the committee, replaces the title and 
the bill and provides that the minimum wage may not exceed the average minimum wage 
paid in the New England states, as determined by the Commissioner of Labor. 
FISCAL NOTE REQVIRED 
(Bee...., 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/23/17 feac.. 
LD831 
LR 1750(02) 
An Act To Base the Minimum Wage on a New England State Average and To Restore the Tip Credit 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment'/\' (. S ~;;_ I 9) 
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Current biennium savings - All funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
The requirement that the minimum wage for Maine not exceed the average minimum wage paid in the New England 
states will result in savings to the State and to municipalities beginning in calendar year 2018. At the present time, the 
average minimum wage in New England is $9.49 per hour versus $9.00 per hour in Maine required pursuant to Title 
26, §664, sub-§1. Absent any change in current law, the average for New England will climb to $9.74 per hour in 
2018 and $9.91 per hour in calendar year 2019, which is $0.26 below the $10.00 per hour required minimum wage for 
Maine in 2018 and $1.09 per hour less than the $11.00 per hour minimum wage for Maine required in 2019. 
LRI 750(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of I