HBA-MPA, BTC H.B. 197 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 197
By: Burnam
Economic Development
2/18/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

In 1997, 3.3 million Texans lived in poverty, including nearly one out of
four Texas children.  The majority of these children live in families that
include at least one working parent.  Studies that have examined the
effects of raising the national minimum wage have shown that the benefits
of a wage increase went primarily to low-income working families, and that
employment opportunities for teenagers and young adults were not adversely
affected by the increase.  H.B. 197 sets the Texas minimum wage at $6.00 an
hour on or after September 1, 1999, and raises it to $6.50 an hour on or
after January 1, 2000. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 62.003(b), Labor Code, to make conforming and
nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 62.051, Labor Code, to increase the minimum wage
from $3.35 to $6.00 per hour to begin on or after September 1, 1999, but no
later than January 1, 2000, and to $6.50 per hour on or after January 1,
2000.  Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 3. Amends Section 62.201, Labor Code, to make conforming changes. 

SECTION 4.  Repealer:  Section 62.055 (Special Wage for Certain Employees),
Labor Code, which authorizes certain employees to be paid not less than 60
percent of the minimum wage, and  Section 62.056 (Medical Certificate),
Labor Code, which provides that an employer must obtain a medical
certificate in order to pay an employee at less than the minimum wage
because the person's productive capacity is impaired by age, physical or
mental deficiency, or injury.   

SECTION 5.Effective date:  September 1, 1999.

SECTION 6.Emergency clause.