123rd MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1697		LR 226(06)
	An Act To Ensure Fair Wages
	Fiscal Note for Senate Amendment "     " to Committee Amendment "A"
	Sponsor: Sen. Dow of Lincoln
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
			2007-08	2008-09	Projections 2009-10	Projections 2010-11
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$0	($54,837)	($60,287)	($63,141)
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$0	($54,837)	($60,287)	($63,141)
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This amendment eliminates the General Fund cost of the bill of $54,837 in fiscal year 2008-09.  It restores the exemptions to the minimum wage and overtime laws and eliminates the need for one Labor and Safety Inspector position in the Bureau of Labor Standards within the Department of Labor.
	As amended, this bill increases the minimum wage to $7.35 per hour in 2008, $7.70 per hour in 2009 and $8.00 per hour in 2010 and provides for an annual adjustment to the minimum wage based on the change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).
	As amended, this bill also increases the amount of fines and penalties that may be assessed on employers who violate the minimum wage and overtime laws and provides that 90% is to be paid to the State and 10% to the affected employee.  The increase in General Fund revenue is estimated to be $97,800 annually, beginning in fiscal year 2008-09.