LRB-0207/1
MED&GMM:eev:rs
2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE
January 16, 2015 - Introduced by Senators Wirch, Carpenter, Erpenbach,
Hansen, Harris Dodd, C. Larson, Ringhand, Risser, Shilling, L. Taylor,
Vinehout and Miller, cosponsored by Representatives Mason, Barnes,
Berceau, Billings, Genrich, Goyke, Hebl, Hintz, Johnson, Jorgensen,
Kahl, Kolste, Ohnstad, Sargent, Shankland, Sinicki, C. Taylor, Young and
Zepnick. Referred to Committee on Labor and Government Reform.
SB2,1,12 1An Act to repeal 104.01 (5), 104.04 (title), 104.05, 104.06 and 104.11; to
2renumber
104.01 (1); to renumber and amend 104.04 and 104.045; to
3consolidate, renumber and amend
104.02 and 104.03; to amend 49.141 (1)
4(g), 103.06 (1) (b) 5., 103.06 (1) (c) 5., 103.06 (3) (a) 4., 103.06 (4) (a) 1., 103.67
5(2) (fm) 3., 103.70 (2) (b) 3., 104.001 (1), 104.001 (2), 104.01 (intro.), 104.01 (8),
6104.07 (1) and (2), 104.08 (2m), 104.10, 104.12, 234.94 (5), 234.94 (8), 800.09
7(1j), 800.095 (1) (d) and 895.035 (2m) (c); and to create 104.01 (1d), 104.01 (1g),
8104.01 (5m), 104.01 (7m), 104.035 and 104.045 (2) and (3) of the statutes;
9relating to: a state minimum wage, extending the time limit for emergency
10rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures,
11providing an exemption from rule-making procedures, and requiring the
12exercise of rule-making authority.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Currently, the state minimum wage law requires that employers pay a living
wage to their employees. Under that law, the Department of Workforce Development

(DWD) has provided, by rule, minimum wages for various types of employees,
including employees, generally; minor employees; opportunity employees, who are
defined as employees under 20 years of age in their first 90 days of employment with
a particular employer; tipped employees; agricultural employees; camp counselors;
golf caddies; students employed at independent colleges and universities for less
than 20 hours per week; student learners employed in bona fide school training
programs; and individuals who are unable to earn the standard minimum wage
because of a disability. DWD has exempted, by rule, from the minimum wage law
employees who perform less than 15 hours per week of casual employment, such as
baby-sitting or lawn mowing, in and around an employer's home; employees who
provide companionship services to elderly or infirm individuals; and elementary and
secondary school students performing work-like activities in their schools. DWD
has also promulgated rules providing allowances against the minimum wage for
employers that provide meals or lodging for their employees.
This bill repeals references to and provisions for a living wage and replaces
them with provisions requiring a minimum wage, described as follows. Under this
bill, DWD will continue to provide the exemptions listed above as well as separate
minimum wages for opportunity employees, agricultural employees, camp
counselors, golf caddies, students employed at independent colleges and universities
for less than 20 hours per week, student learners employed in bona fide school
training programs, and individuals who are unable to earn the standard minimum
wages because of a disability. For employees generally and for tipped employees,
however, the bill sets the minimum wages as follows: - See PDF for table PDF
Beginning three years after the bill's effective date for employees generally and
one year after the bill's effective date for tipped employees, the bill requires DWD
annually to promulgate rules revising the minimum wages established under the bill
by determining the percentage difference between the consumer price index for the
preceding 12-month period (year) and the consumer price index for the year before
the preceding year, adjusting the minimum wages then in effect by that percentage
difference, and rounding that result to the nearest multiple of five cents. For tipped

employees, the bill requires DWD to increase the minimum wage by 95 cents each
year until the minimum wage for tipped employees equals 70 percent of the
minimum wage for employees generally and then in subsequent years to revise the
minimum wage for tipped employees so that the minimum wage for tipped employees
remains equal to 70 percent of the minimum wage for employees generally, rounded
to the nearest multiple of five cents. DWD, however, is not required to revise the
general minimum wage if the consumer price index for the preceding year has not
increased over the consumer price index for the year before the preceding year.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB2,1 1Section 1. 49.141 (1) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB2,3,42 49.141 (1) (g) "Minimum wage" means the state minimum hourly wage under
3ch. 104 s. 104.035 (1) or the federal minimum hourly wage under 29 USC 206 (a) (1),
4whichever is applicable.
SB2,2 5Section 2. 103.06 (1) (b) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB2,3,86 103.06 (1) (b) 5. For purposes of maintaining records under sub. (3) (a) 4. as
7required under rules promulgated under s. 104.04 104.035, an employee, as defined
8in s. 104.01 (2).
SB2,3 9Section 3. 103.06 (1) (c) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB2,3,1210 103.06 (1) (c) 5. For purposes of maintaining records under sub. (3) (a) 4. as
11required under rules promulgated under s. 104.04 104.035, an employer, as defined
12in s. 104.01 (3).
SB2,4 13Section 4. 103.06 (3) (a) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB2,4,214 103.06 (3) (a) 4. That the employer is maintaining records of the hours worked
15by its employees, the wages paid to those employees, any deductions from those
16wages, and any other information that the employer is required to keep under rules

1promulgated under s. 103.02 or 104.04 104.035, and is listing deductions from wages
2as required under s. 103.457.
SB2,5 3Section 5. 103.06 (4) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB2,4,104 103.06 (4) (a) 1. Enter and inspect any place of business or place of employment
5and examine and copy any records that the employer is required to keep under rules
6promulgated under s. 103.02 or 104.04 104.035; any books, registers, payroll records,
7records of wage withholdings, records of work activity and hours of work, and records
8or indicia of the employment status of persons performing work for the employer; and
9any other records relating to compliance with the requirements specified in sub. (3)
10(a).
SB2,6 11Section 6. 103.67 (2) (fm) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB2,4,1312 103.67 (2) (fm) 3. The minor is paid the applicable minimum wage under ch.
13104
s. 104.035 or under federal law, whichever is greater, for the work.
SB2,7 14Section 7. 103.70 (2) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB2,4,1615 103.70 (2) (b) 3. The minor is paid the applicable minimum wage under
16 ch. 104
s. 104.035 or under federal law, whichever is greater, for the work.
SB2,8 17Section 8. 104.001 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB2,4,2418 104.001 (1) The legislature finds that the provision of a living minimum wage
19that is uniform throughout the state is a matter of statewide concern and that the
20enactment of a living minimum wage ordinance by a city, village, town, or county
21would be logically inconsistent with, would defeat the purpose of, and would go
22against the spirit of this chapter. Therefore, this chapter shall be construed as an
23enactment of statewide concern for the purpose of providing a living minimum wage
24that is uniform throughout the state.
SB2,9 25Section 9. 104.001 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB2,5,3
1104.001 (2) A city, village, town, or county may not enact and administer an
2ordinance establishing a living minimum wage. Any city, village, town, or county
3living minimum wage ordinance that is in effect on June 16, 2005, is void.
SB2,10 4Section 10. 104.01 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB2,5,6 5104.01 Definitions. (intro.) The following terms as used in In this chapter
6shall be construed as follows:
SB2,11 7Section 11. 104.01 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 104.01 (1m).
SB2,12 8Section 12. 104.01 (1d) of the statutes is created to read:
SB2,5,109 104.01 (1d) "Agricultural employee" means an employee who is employed in
10the operation of farm premises, as described in s. 102.04 (3).
SB2,13 11Section 13. 104.01 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:
SB2,5,1512 104.01 (1g) "Consumer price index" means the average of the consumer price
13index over each 12-month period for all urban consumers, U.S. city average, all
14items, not seasonally adjusted, as determined by the bureau of labor statistics of the
15U.S. department of labor.
SB2,14 16Section 14. 104.01 (5) of the statutes is repealed.
SB2,15 17Section 15. 104.01 (5m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB2,5,1918 104.01 (5m) "Opportunity employee" means a person under 20 years of age who
19is in the first 90 consecutive days of employment with his or her employer.
SB2,16 20Section 16. 104.01 (7m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB2,5,2321 104.01 (7m) "Tipped employee" means an employee who in the course of
22employment customarily and regularly receives money or other gratuities from
23persons other than the employee's employer.
SB2,17 24Section 17. 104.01 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB2,6,2
1104.01 (8) The term "wage" and the term "wages" shall each mean "Wage"
2means
any compensation for labor measured by time, piece, or otherwise.
SB2,18 3Section 18. 104.02 and 104.03 of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered
4104.02 and amended to read:
SB2,6,11 5104.02 Living Minimum wage prescribed: requirement to pay. Every
6wage paid or agreed to be paid by any employer to any employee, except as otherwise
7provided in s. 104.07, shall be not less than a living the applicable minimum wage
8established under s. 104.035. 104.03 Unlawful wages. Any employer paying,
9offering to pay, or agreeing to pay any employee a wage lower or less in value than
10 a living the applicable minimum wage established under s. 104.035 is guilty of a
11violation of this chapter.
SB2,19 12Section 19. 104.035 of the statutes is created to read:
SB2,6,14 13104.035 Minimum wage; established. (1) Employees generally. Except
14as provided in subs. (2) to (4), the minimum wage is as follows:
SB2,6,1615 (a) For wages earned before the first day of the 15th month beginning after
16publication .... [LRB inserts date], $8.20 per hour.
SB2,6,1917 (b) For wages earned beginning on the first day of the 15th month beginning
18after publication .... [LRB inserts date], and ending on the last day of the 26th month
19beginning after publication .... [LRB inserts date], $9.15 per hour.
SB2,6,2220 (c) For wages earned beginning on the first day of the 27th month beginning
21after publication .... [LRB inserts date], and ending on the last day of the 38th month
22beginning after publication .... [LRB inserts date], $10.10 per hour.
SB2,6,2523 (d) For wages earned beginning on the first day of the 39th month beginning
24after publication .... [LRB inserts date], the amount determined by the department
25by rule promulgated under sub. (5).
SB2,7,6
1(2) Tipped employees. Except as provided in subs. (3) and (4), if an employer
2of a tipped employee establishes by the employer's payroll records that, when adding
3the tips received by the tipped employee in a week to the wages paid to the tipped
4employee in that week, the tipped employee receives not less than the applicable
5minimum wage specified in sub. (1), the minimum wage for the tipped employee is
6as follows:
SB2,7,87 (a) For wages earned before the first day of the 15th month beginning after
8publication .... [LRB inserts date], $3 per hour.
SB2,7,119 (b) For wages earned beginning on the first day of the 15th month beginning
10after publication .... [LRB inserts date], the amounts determined by the department
11by rule promulgated under sub. (5).
SB2,7,13 12(3) Minimum wage established by department. The department shall
13promulgate rules providing the minimum wage for all of the following:
SB2,7,1414 (a) Opportunity employees.
SB2,7,1515 (b) Agricultural employees.
SB2,7,1616 (c) Camp counselors.
SB2,7,1717 (d) Golf caddies.
SB2,7,1918 (e) An employee or worker with a disability covered under a license under s.
19104.07.
SB2,7,2020 (f) A student learner.
SB2,7,2221 (g) A student employed by an independent college or university for less than
2220 hours per week.
SB2,7,25 23(4) Employment exempted by department. The department shall promulgate
24rules exempting from the minimum wage requirements under subs. (1) to (3) all of
25the following:
SB2,8,2
1(a) A person engaged in casual employment in and around an employer's home
2on an irregular or intermittent basis for not more than 15 hours per week.
SB2,8,63 (b) A person who resides in the home of an employer who, due to advanced age
4or physical or mental disability, cannot care for his or her own needs, for the purpose
5of companionship and who spends not more than 15 hours per week on general
6household work for the employer.
SB2,8,87 (c) An elementary or secondary school student performing student work-like
8activities in the student's school.
SB2,8,18 9(5) Department to revise. (a) 1. Subject to par. (b), by the date specified in sub.
10(1) (d) or (2) (b), whichever is applicable, and annually thereafter, the department
11shall promulgate rules to revise the minimum wages established under subs. (1) and
12(2). Subject to subd. 2., the department shall determine those revised minimum
13wages by calculating the percentage difference between the consumer price index for
14the 12-month period ending on the last day of the last month for which that
15information is available and the consumer price index for the 12-month period
16ending on the last day of the month 12 months prior to that month, adjusting the
17minimum wages then in effect by that percentage difference, and rounding that
18result to the nearest multiple of 5 cents.
SB2,9,319 2. In revising the minimum wage for tipped employees under sub. (2), each year
20the department shall increase that minimum wage by 95 cents or by the amount that
21is necessary for that minimum wage to equal 70 percent of the minimum wage under
22sub. (1) as determined under subd. 1., rounded to the nearest multiple of 5 cents,
23whichever is less. For years subsequent to the first year in which the minimum wage
24under sub. (2) equals 70 percent of the minimum wage under sub. (1) as determined
25under subd. 1., the department shall revise the minimum wage under sub. (2) by the

1amount that is necessary for that minimum wage to remain equal to 70 percent of
2the minimum wage under sub. (1) as determined under subd. 1., rounded to the
3nearest multiple of 5 cents.
SB2,9,154 3. The department may use the emergency rule procedures under s. 227.24 to
5promulgate the rules required under subds. 1. and 2. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1)
6(a) and (3), the department may promulgate those rules as emergency rules without
7providing evidence that promulgating those rules as emergency rules is necessary
8to preserve the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and without a finding of
9emergency. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (e) 1d. and 1g., the department is not
10required to prepare a statement of the scope of those rules or to submit those rules
11in final draft form to the governor for approval. A revised minimum wage
12determined under subd. 1. or 2. shall first apply to wages earned on the first day of
13the 3rd month beginning after the month of publication .... [LRB inserts date], of the
14year in which the wage is revised and, notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), shall
15remain in effect until that same date the following year.
SB2,9,1916 (b) Paragraph (a) 1. does not apply if the consumer price index for the 12-month
17period ending on the last day of the last month for which that information is available
18has not increased over the consumer price index for the 12-month period ending on
19the last day of the month 12 months prior to that month.
SB2,9,20 20(6) Gender-specific minimum wage prohibited.
SB2,20 21Section 20. 104.04 (title) of the statutes is repealed.
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