This initiative measure is submitted to the people in accordance with the provisions of Article II, Section 8 of the Constitution.

This initiative measure adds a section to the Labor Code; therefore, new provisions proposed to be added are printed in italic type to indicate that they are new.

PROPOSED LAW

LIVING WAGE ACT OF 1996

Section 1. The People of California find and declare that:
   Because of inflation, Californians who earn the minimum wage can buy less today than at any time in the past 40 years;
   At $4.25 per hour, the current minimum wage punishes hard work. It is so low that minimum wage workers often make less than people on welfare;
   Increasing the minimum wage will reward work by making it pay more than welfare;
   Because good paying jobs are becoming so hard to find, it is more important than ever that California has a living minimum wage;
   The purpose of the Living Wage Act of 1996 is to restore the purchasing power of the minimum wage and to help minimum wage workers lift themselves out of poverty;
   To achieve that purpose, the Living Wage Act of 1996 will increase the minimum wage to $5.00 per hour in 1997 and $5.75 per hour in 1998.

Section 2. Section 1182.11 is added to the Labor Code to read:
    1182.11. Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, on and after March 1, 1997, the minimum wage for all industries shall not be less than five dollars ($5.00) per hour; on and after March 1, 1998, the minimum wage for all industries shall not be less than five dollars and seventy-five cents ($5.75) per hour. The Industrial Welfare Commission shall, at a public meeting, adopt minimum wage orders consistent with this section without convening wage boards, which wage orders shall be final and conclusive for all purposes.

Section 3. Name of Act.
   This statute shall be known as the Living Wage Act of 1996.