House Bill 574

AN ACT TO INCREASE MISSISSIPPI'S MINIMUM WAGE; TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTAIN WAGE BE PAID BY EMPLOYERS DOING BUSINESS IN THE STATE TO ANY EMPLOYEE WITHIN THEIR EMPLOYMENT; TO AMEND SECTION 25-3-40, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING SECTION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) (a) Any employer doing business in the state shall pay any employee within his employment a wage, at least: (i) Seven Dollars and Fifty Cents ($7.50) per hour beginning on July 1, 2007; and (ii) Eight Dollars ($8.00) per hour beginning on January 1, 2008.

SECTION 2. Section 25-3-40, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

25-3-40. * * * The Mississippi Compensation Plan shall be amended to provide salary increases in such amounts and percentages as might be recommended by the Legislative Budget Office and as may be authorized by funds appropriated by the Legislature for the purpose of granting incentive salary increases as deemed possible dependent upon the availability of general and special funds.

It is hereby declared to be the intent of the Mississippi Legislature to implement a minimum wage as enacted by Mississippi or federal statutory law, whichever wage is greater. It is the intent and purpose of this section to maximize annual salary increases consistent with the availability of funds as might be determined by the Mississippi Legislature at its regular annual session and that all salary increases hereafter be made consistent with the provisions of this section.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.