S 67

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1S.67
2 Introduced by Senators Clarkson, Gulick, Watson and White
3 Referred to Committee on
4 Date:
5 Subject: Labor; employment practices; minimum wages
6 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to increase the
7 minimum wage to the livable wage as established by the basic needs budget.
8    An act relating to increasing the State minimum wage based on the livable
9    wage
10 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
11 Sec. 1. LEGISLATIVE INTENT
12    Consistent with the declaration of policy on minimum wages, set forth in 21
13 V.S.A. § 381, and to address ongoing concerns about affordability, it is the
14 General Assembly’s intent to raise the State minimum wage to the livable
15 wage as reported by the Joint Fiscal Office in January 2025. Future increases
16 to the minimum wage will continue to be determined as established by current
17 law.
18 Sec. 2. 21 V.S.A. § 383 is amended to read:
19 § 383. DEFINITIONS
20    As used in this subchapter:
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2(5) “Livable wage” means the average of the urban and rural hourly
3 wage required for a full-time worker who lives in shared housing and has
4 employer-assisted health insurance to pay for the basic needs budget.
5 Sec. 3. 21 V.S.A. § 384 is amended to read:
6 § 384. EMPLOYMENT; WAGES
7    (a)(1) Beginning on January 1, 2022 2026, an employer shall not employ
8 any employee at a rate of less than $12.55, and on the livable wage of $18.60.
9 On each subsequent January 1, the minimum wage rate shall be increased by
10 five percent or the percentage increase of the Consumer Price Index, CPI-U,
11 U.S. city average, not seasonally adjusted, or successor index, as calculated by
12 the U.S. Department of Labor or successor agency for the 12 months preceding
13 the previous September 1, whichever is smaller, but in no event shall the
14 minimum wage be decreased. The minimum wage shall be rounded off to the
15 nearest $0.01.
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17 Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE
18    This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
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