CHEYENNE – With frigid weather blasting Wyoming, Cheyenne is starting to heat up as the 63rd Legislative session is just around the corner. One bill which should get a lot of attention is a proposed increase to the minimum wage.
The session gets underway on Jan. 13 and will run until the first week of March. One bill which will have many people watching with a lot of interest is House Bill 24 which will increase the minimum wage in Wyoming. The bill is sponsored by Rep. James Byrd, D-Laramie, Cathy Connolly, D-Albany, Mary Throne, D-Laramie and Sen. Floyd Esquibel, D-Laramie.
The proposed bill does not only increase minimum wages, it requires employers to pay underpaid tipped wages in a specified time and provides a penalty as well as providing a date it would become effective.
The bill proposes to increase the minimum wage from $5.15 to $9. If approved it would also raise tipped employees from $2.13 to $5. If the bill is approved by both the House and the Senate and signed by the Governor, the change would go into effect July 1, 2015.
The bill also adds language addressing employers that do not make the change for tipped employees. The proposed language reads an employer that does not pay the difference to the tipped employee as required under this subsection within 10 days of submission of the daily records by the employee is liable for three times the amount due but in no case less than $100 plus court costs and reasonable attorney fees.
Upcoming Meet and Greet
There is a Legislative Meet-and-Greet scheduled at the Homewood Suites located at 60 Winston Drive in Rock Springs on January 6th from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.. This informal meet-and-greet is a wonderful opportunity for open communication with those that serve the Sweetwater County.
Schedule for 63rd Legislative Session ( subject to change)
Jan. 13 – Session convenes.
Jan. 28 – Last day for Senate Files to be submitted to LSO for introduction. (noon)
Feb. 2 – Last day for House Bills to be submitted to LSO for introduction. (noon)
Feb. 6 – Last day for bills to be reported out of Committee in house of origin.
Feb. 9 – Last day for Committee of the Whole in house of origin.
Feb. 10 – Last day for Second Reading in house of origin.
Feb. 11 – Last day for Third Reading on Bills in house of origin.
Feb. 13 & 16 – President’s Day Recess
Feb. 27 – Last day for bills to be reported out of Committee in second house.
March 2 – Last day for Committee of the Whole on bills in the second house.
March 3 – Last day for Second Reading on bills in the second house.
March 4 – Last day for Third Reading on bills in the second house.
March 5 – Concurrence on Amendments/Joint Conference Committee Reports.
March 6 – Joint Conference Committee Reports; All JCC Reports due to Front Desk by 2 p.m.
ADJOURN by Midnight.
