129th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1098		LR 1024(02)
	An Act To Help Small Employers by Making the Minimum Wage Increase More Gradual in Nonurban Areas
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Labor and Housing
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
			FY 2019-20	FY 2020-21	Projections  FY 2021-22	Projections  FY 2022-23
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$68,064	$91,546	$94,415	$97,565
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$68,064	$91,546	$94,415	$97,565
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill includes General Fund appropriations of $68,064 in fiscal year 2019-20 and $91,546 in fiscal year 2020-21 to the Regulation and Enforcement program within the Department of Labor for one Labor and Safety Inspector position and related All Other costs necessary to respond to an anticipated increase in the number of reported instances of violations associated with the establishment of an alternative minimum wage for certain areas of the State.
	This bill establishes an alternative minimum wage for all areas of the State other than Cumberland County except for the towns of Baldwin, Bridgton, Harrison and Naples.  The alternative minimum wage increases the hourly wage by 50 cents per hour on January 1, 2021 and an additional 50 cents per hour on January 1, 2022 instead of $1.00 per hour on January 1, 2020.  The bill also delays the cost-of-living adjustment for the current minimum wage to January 1, 2024, changes the timing of the increase from every year to every 3 years and changes the calculation of the increase from the average increase over the prior year to the average increase over the prior 3 years.
	These changes in the minimum wage law may result in savings to the State and municipalities beginning in fiscal year 2019-20, depending on the wages currently in place and decisions on future wages when increases required by law are less than they would have been under current law.