131st MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1376		LR 2201(01)
	An Act to Create a Livable Wage by Increasing the Minimum Hourly Wage
	Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement for Original Bill
	Sponsor: Rep. Collings of Portland
	Committee: Labor and Housing
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement
Potential future biennium cost increase - All funds Potential current biennium cost increase - local units of government
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This legislation increases the minimum hourly wage from $13.80 per hour to $15.00 per hour effective January 1, 2024 and then by either an additional $1 per hour or the percentage increase of the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, (CPI-W) for the Northeast Region, or its successor index, whichever is greater, on January 1st of each year thereafter. Increasing the minimum wage to $15.00 per hour is not expected to have a fiscal impact on State Government as salary schedules currently in place indicate the lowest hourly rate for state employees is at $15.00 per hour. However, there may be increased costs to the State in the future because of the annual wage increases, depending on the rates of pay for the lowest paid employees at the time the higher wages tied to the CPI-W would be imposed.
	The increased wages may increase costs to municipalities depending on the existing rates of pay for the lowest paid employees in each municipality at the time a higher wage would be imposed and cannot be determined at this time.