05/10/2002 09:50 AM Senate RLS

CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS said he would move  CSHB 56(FIN)-MINIMUM WAGE to                                                          
the bottom of the calendar.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELLIS offered to make a motion to calendar the bill.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  PHILLIPS  noted a  majority  of  the committee  must  be                                                              
present to move the bill from committee  and that two members were                                                              
absent.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  ELLIS  said he  was  willing  to  give the  Chairman  the                                                              
discretion to calendar the bill.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THERRIAULT  said he is not  sure of the need for  the bill                                                              
since a ballot measure will be before the voters.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  PHILLIPS informed  members  he would  put HB  56 at  the                                                              
bottom of the calendar.                                                                                                         
The committee took up CSHB 56(FIN)-MINIMUM WAGE.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THERRIAULT  informed members that he heard  earlier in the                                                              
year that  the group that gathered  the signatures for  the ballot                                                              
initiative  found  taking  this  question  to  the  ballot  to  be                                                              
acceptable.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  ED  FLANAGAN,  Department  of  Labor  and  Workforce                                                              
Development,  said it would  not be appropriate  for him  to speak                                                              
for  the  sponsors  of the  initiative  but  he  believes  Senator                                                              
Therriault's understanding  of the  discussions in the  other body                                                              
is  correct. He  noted there  were  various discussions  regarding                                                              
what language was  substantially similar to the  ballot initiative                                                              
and acknowledgement  that the language  in the bill would  have to                                                              
be  almost identical  to the  ballot  initiative in  terms of  the                                                              
consumer  price index.  The department  supports the  bill; it  is                                                              
identical to the initiative. The  department also supports leaving                                                              
the question to the voters.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THERRIAULT asked that the bill be held for another day.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER FLANAGAN  pointed out that he prefers the  bill as it                                                              
takes effect two months earlier than the initiative.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THERRIAULT asked how this  bill will impact the school bus                                                              
drivers'  contracts   if  they  are  halfway  into   a  three-year                                                              
contract.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  FLANAGAN replied  that  no changes  will take  place                                                              
until the next contract negotiation.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THERRIAULT again requested  that the bill be held one day.                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS agreed  to do so. He then adjourned  the meeting                                                              
at 10:05 a.m.