2022 -- H 7348

========

LC004197

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- MINIMUM WAGES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Felix, Cassar, Morales, Kazarian, Kislak, Potter, Alzate,
McNamara, Casimiro, and Williams

     Date Introduced: February 04, 2022

     Referred To: House Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1

     SECTION 1. Section 28-12-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-12 entitled "Minimum

2

Wages" is hereby amended to read as follows:

3

     28-12-5. Employees receiving gratuities.

4

     (a) Every employer shall pay to each of his or her employees who are engaged in any work

5

or employment in which gratuities have customarily and usually constituted a part of his or her

6

weekly income, the rate as provided by §§ 28-12-3 and 28-12-3.1.

7

     (b) Allowance for gratuities as part of the hourly wage rate for restaurants, hotels, and other

8

industries, except taxicabs and limited public motor vehicles, shall be an amount equal to the

9

applicable minimum rates as provided by §§ 28-12-3 and 28-12-3.1 less two dollars and eighty-

10

nine cents ($2.89) per hour. "Gratuities" means voluntary monetary compensation received directly

11

or indirectly by the employee for services rendered.

12

     (c) Each employer desiring to deduct for gratuities as part of the minimum rates as provided

13

in §§ 28-12-3 and 28-12-3.1 wages paid to an employee shall provide substantial evidence that the

14

amount shall be set out in the formula in subsection (b) of this section; however, the cash wage

15

shall not be less than two dollars and eighty-nine cents ($2.89) per hour; provided, however, that

16

commencing January 1, 2016, the cash wage shall increase by fifty cents ($.50) to an amount not

17

less than three dollars and thirty-nine cents ($3.39) per hour; provided further, that commencing

18

January 1, 2017, the cash wage shall increase by fifty cents ($.50) to an amount not less than three

19

dollars and eighty-nine cents ($3.89) per hour; provided further, that commencing January 1, 2023,

 

1

the cash wage shall increase by three dollars and six cents ($3.06) to an amount not less than six

2

dollars and ninety-five cents ($6.95) per hour; commencing January 1, 2024, the cash wage shall

3

increase by two dollars ($2.00) to an amount not less than eight dollars and ninety-five cents ($8.95)

4

per hour; commencing January 1, 2025, the cash wage shall increase by two dollars ($2.00) to an

5

amount not less than ten dollars and ninety-five cents ($10.95) per hour commencing; January 1,

6

2026, the cash wage shall increase by two dollars ($2.00) to an amount not less than twelve dollars

7

and ninety-five cents ($12.95) per hour; commencing January 1, 2027, the cash wage shall increase

8

by two dollars ($2.00) to an amount not less than fourteen dollars and ninety-five cents ($14.95)

9

per hour; commencing January 1, 2028, the cash wage shall be no less than the minimum wage

10

established pursuant to § 28-12-3.

11

     (d) The director of labor and training shall notify employers concerning what type of proof

12

shall be accepted as substantial evidence for the purpose of this subsection. Employees involved

13

shall be entitled to a hearing on the question of the amount of deduction if they so desire.

14

     (e) In cases where wages are figured by the employer on an incentive basis in such a manner

15

that an employee of reasonable average ability earns at least the minimum wage established by §§

16

28-12-3 and 28-12-3.1, it shall be taken that the employer has complied with this statute. It shall be

17

of no concern to the director of labor and training how the employer arrives at its wage scale so

18

long as it is not unreasonable in its demands on the employee.

19

     (f) Where, in the case of the employment of a full-time student who has not attained his or

20

her nineteenth (19th) birthday engaged in the activities of a nonprofit association or corporation,

21

whose aims and objectives are religious, educational, librarial, or community service in nature, the

22

employer-employee relationship does exist, the employer shall pay to each such employee wages

23

at a rate of not less than ninety percent (90%) of the minimum wage as specified in § 28-12-3. In

24

case of any conflict between provisions of this section and those of § 28-12-3.1, the provisions of

25

§ 28-12-3.1 shall govern.

26

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC004197

========

 

LC004197 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- MINIMUM WAGES

***

1

     Commencing January 1, 2023, this act would gradually increase the minimum wage for

2

employees receiving gratuities from the current three dollars and eighty-nine cents ($3.89) to

3

fourteen dollars and ninety-five cents ($14.95) by January 1, 2027 and on January 1, 2028 the

4

minimum wage for employees receiving gratuities shall be no less than the minimum wage

5

established by the minimum wage law.

6

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC004197

========

 

LC004197 - Page 3 of 3