Mead Treadwell Lieutenant Governor Public Hearing on Ballot Measure 3: An Act to Increase the Alaska Minimum Wage

Lt. Governor Treadwell presents sectional analysis and cost estimate of the bill Pro side presents: 10 minutes Con side presents: 10 minutes Public testimony: 3 minutes per person Agenda for Public Hearing

Would increase Alaska’s minimum wage from $7.75/hr. to $8.75/hr. effective Jan. 1, 2015 and to $9.75/hr. effective Jan. 1, 2016, and thereafter adjusted annually for inflation Would create a method for annual inflation adjustment, but if that method does not yield a state minimum wage that is at least one dollar higher than the federal minimum wage; Would require the minimum wage to be at least one dollar over the federal minimum Tips or gratuities would not count toward the minimum wage Summary of the Proposed Bill

Sectional Analysis of the Proposed Bill The two-page Act would repeal and reenact AS (a) and would require that the minimum wage in Alaska be raised by $2, in two installments, over the next two years; from $7.75 to $9.75 by January 1, The Act provides a method for calculating an annual adjustment for inflation after 2016; If the minimum wage determined by the proposed annual adjustment method is less than $1 over the federal minimum wage, the Alaska minimum wage shall be set at $1 over the federal minimum wage.

Duration of a citizen initiative if a majority of votes favor adoption The lieutenant governor shall certify the election returns. An initiated law becomes effective ninety days after certification. It is not subject to veto, and may not be repealed by the legislature within two years of its effective date. (see Alaska Const. art. XI, sec 6) Although the legislature may amend an initiative at any time after it is enacted, any amendments made during the first two years may not operate to effectively repeal the initiative by amendment, or vitiate the intent. (see Warren v. Boucher, 543 P.2d 731,737 [Alaska 1975]; and Warren v. Thomas, 568 P.2d 400 [Alaska 1977])

Cost to Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development: $2,083 (for posters and brochures) Cost Estimate of the Bill

Agenda for Public Hearing Lt. Governor Treadwell presents sectional analysis and cost estimate of the bill Pro side presents: 10 minutes Con side presents: 10 minutes Public testimony: 3 minutes per person