HB 258 -- MINIMUM WAGE

SPONSOR:  Jones (89)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Workforce Development and Workplace Safety by a vote of 7 to 4.

This bill allows the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
to establish rules to implement the federal minimum wage
provisions.

Employers are allowed to pay an employee who receives tips less
than the hourly cash wage amount specified in the Fair Labor
Standards Act if the total compensation of the employee is not
less than the wage required under the state's Minimum Wage Law.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2010, FY 2011, and
FY 2012.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill corrects and clarifies
the provisions of Proposition B, Missouri's Minimum Wage Law,
passed in 2006 by returning employees who receive tips to the
provisions of the federal Minimum Wage Law.  The bill protects
jobs and aids the financially stressed restaurant industry.
Restaurants are absorbing increased food costs and experiencing
fewer customers.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Jones (89); Michael
Wiggins, Granny Shaffier's Restaurant; Robert Kirkwood; Victor B.
Allred; Brian Ash; Robert Bonney, II, Greg Hunsucker, and Richard
Wells, Jr., Missouri Restaurant Association; Jack Borgmeyer,
Pasta Grill Corporation; Jerald S. Claywell; Mary E. Hostetter,
Blue Owl Restaurant and Bakery; Todd Hulse, Jack Stack BBQ; John
Lane; Gary Lee Leonard, Leonard's SnS; Michael Norsworthy, KRM,
Incorporated; Jason Pryor, Greater Kansas City Restaurant
Association; and National Federation of Independent Business.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that Proposition B was
approved by voters in every county in Missouri and by 76.8%
statewide.  If the bill passes, $155 million will be lost in
wages to more than 53,000 servers.  Tip servers cannot control
whether or not they receive a tip.  The current economic
situation has caused many restaurant patrons to tip less.

Testifying against the bill were Lara Granich, Missouri Jobs with
Justice; Dana Dreher; Dave Morton, Unite Here; Missouri AFL-CIO;
United Steelworkers, District 11; and Missouri Association for
Social Welfare.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:24 am