(SACRAMENTO, CA) Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) issued the following statement in response to the California State Assembly’s passage of Senate Bill (SB) 3, which would incrementally increase the state’s minimum wage over five years to $15 per hour by 2022. Ting is a principal co-author of the legislation. The State Senate is also voting on this legislation today. Ting’s statement follows.
“This is a historic win for working men and women. As our economy grows, workers deserve a stake in the state’s success,” said Ting. “Many families have not seen our economic recovery benefit their bottom line. No one should work full time and live in poverty. Working families deserve the dignity of a livable wage.”
The bill provides for the following increases in the minimum wage for employers with 26 workers or more.
- Starting January 1, 2017 increases the minimum wage to $10.50 per hour.
- Starting January 1, 2018 increases the minimum wage to $11 per hour.
- Starting January 1, 2019, increases the minimum wage to $12 per hour.
- Starting January 1, 2020, increases the minimum wage to $13 per hour.
- Starting January 1, 2021, increases the minimum wage to $14 per hour.
- Starting January 1, 2022, increases the minimum wage to $15 per hour.
Thereafter, the minimum wage will be increased annually to counter the effects of inflation at the consumer price index or 3.5%, whichever is lower.
Businesses that employ 25 or fewer employees get an extra year to meet these wage requirements. Also, the governor would be authorized to temporarily suspend a scheduled increase to the state minimum wage if certain economic conditions or budget conditions cannot support a scheduled increase.
Further information about SB 3 is available at www.leginfo.ca.gov.