By Burnam                                             H.B. No. 1675
         77R3150 SMJ-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the establishment of a minimum wage for public
 1-3     employees.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subtitle A, Title 6, Government Code, is amended
 1-6     by adding Chapter 619 to read as follows:
 1-7               CHAPTER 619.  MINIMUM WAGE FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
 1-8           Sec. 619.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter, "local
 1-9     governmental entity," "public employee," and "state governmental
1-10     entity" have the meanings assigned by Section 554.001.
1-11           Sec. 619.002.  EXEMPTION.  This chapter does not apply to a
1-12     public employee whose salary is set by the Texas Constitution.
1-13           Sec. 619.003.  PAYMENT OF MINIMUM WAGE.  (a)  A state or
1-14     local governmental entity shall pay to a public employee a wage
1-15     that is not less than the greater of:
1-16                 (1)  the minimum hourly wage determined under Section
1-17     619.004; or
1-18                 (2)  the federal minimum hourly wage.
1-19           (b)  Each state and local governmental entity shall adjust
1-20     its salary schedule as necessary beginning with the first full pay
1-21     period that begins after a change in the minimum hourly wage
1-22     determined in accordance with Subsection (a).
1-23           Sec. 619.004.  CALCULATION OF MINIMUM WAGE.  (a)  The minimum
1-24     hourly wage under Section 619.003(a)(1) is equal to the average
 2-1     weekly wage, as determined under Subsection (b), divided by 40.
 2-2           (b)  The average weekly wage is equal to the federal poverty
 2-3     guideline for a family of four, as issued by the federal Department
 2-4     of Health and Human Services, divided by 52.
 2-5           SECTION 2.  (a)  A state or local governmental entity shall
 2-6     adopt a salary schedule in accordance with Chapter 619, Government
 2-7     Code, as added by this Act, not later than October 1, 2001.
 2-8           (b)  A state or local governmental entity shall implement a
 2-9     salary schedule adopted under Subsection (a) of this section on the
2-10     later of October 1, 2001, or the first day of the entity's first
2-11     fiscal year that begins after the effective date of this Act.
2-12           SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a
2-13     vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-14     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-15     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-16     Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the
2-17     legislative session.