PRINTER'S NO. 2439
No. 395 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY ALLEN, JUNE 30, 2005
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LABOR RELATIONS, JUNE 30, 2005
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Establishing the Minimum Wage Advisory Commission and providing
2 for its powers and duties.
3 WHEREAS, The act of January 17, 1968 (P.L.11, No.5), known as
4 The Minimum Wage Act of 1968, requires a minimum wage of $5.15
5 per hour be paid to workers of this Commonwealth; and
6 WHEREAS, Section 4(a.1) of The Minimum Wage Act of 1968 ties
7 the Commonwealth's minimum wage to Federal minimum wage
8 requirements if Federal requirements impose higher wage levels;
9 and
10 WHEREAS, This minimum wage level has not been raised since
11 September 1, 1997, when the national minimum wage was increased
12 by Congress; and
13 WHEREAS, Fifteen other states and the District of Columbia
14 have established minimum wage requirements above the minimum
15 required by Federal law; and
16 WHEREAS, There is mounting pressure to raise the minimum
17 wage; and
1 WHEREAS, There are various legislative proposals to increase
2 the minimum wage which are under consideration by the General
3 Assembly; and
4 WHEREAS, There are conflicting claims made by various
5 interest groups about the consequences of a minimum wage
6 increase; and
7 WHEREAS, The General Assembly considers the issue of a
8 minimum wage an important public policy decision which directly
9 affects the economy and working families of this Commonwealth
10 and is determined that a decision to raise the minimum wage must
11 be based on careful deliberation and consideration of facts;
12 therefore be it
13 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
14 establish the Minimum Wage Advisory Commission; and be it
15 further
16 RESOLVED, That the commission consist of 11 members, who must
17 be residents of this Commonwealth; and be it further
18 RESOLVED, That the President pro tempore of the Senate, the
19 Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
20 Representatives and the Minority Leader of the House of
21 Representatives each appoint two members to the commission; and
22 be it further
23 RESOLVED, That the Governor shall appoint three members to
24 the commission; and be it further
25 RESOLVED, That the members of the commission be appointed
26 with 15 days from the date of adoption of this resolution; and
27 be it further
28 RESOLVED, That the Speaker of the House of Representatives
29 call the initial meeting of the commission within ten days of
30 the appointment of the members, at which the members be directed
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1 to elect from their membership a chairman; and be it further
2 RESOLVED, That the commission may hold hearings, take
3 testimony and make its investigations at such places as it deems
4 necessary within this Commonwealth and that each member of the
5 commission have the power to administer oaths and affirmations
6 to witnesses appearing before the commission; and be it further
7 RESOLVED, That the members of the commission receive no
8 compensation for their services but be allowed actual and
9 necessary expenses incurred in their capacity with the
10 commission; and be it further
11 RESOLVED, That the commission be assigned staff support by
12 the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Minority Leader
13 of the House of Representatives; and be it further
14 RESOLVED, That the commission prepare a report on the minimum
15 wage; and be it further
16 RESOLVED, That the report analyze various proposals to
17 increase the Commonwealth's minimum wage; and be it further
18 RESOLVED, That the report identify findings of fact as to who
19 receives minimum wage in this Commonwealth, who would be
20 affected by different minimum wage proposals and the potential
21 direct and indirect cost to employers; and be it further
22 RESOLVED, That the report review the effect that having a
23 higher minimum wage than the Federal requirement has had on
24 workers, families and employers in those jurisdictions which
25 have implemented such increases; and be it further
26 RESOLVED, That the report make recommendations as to under
27 what circumstances and by how much the Commonwealth's minimum
28 wage should be increased; and be it further
29 RESOLVED, That the report present facts and recommendations
30 which are agreed to by the majority of the members of the
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1 commission but include dissenting opinions on any
2 recommendations; and be it further
3 RESOLVED, That the report be submitted to the Governor, the
4 Senate and the House of Representatives by October 1, 2005.
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