Minnesota Session Laws - 1997, 2nd Special Session

                              CHAPTER 1-S.F.No. 1 
                  An act relating to employment; raising the minimum 
                  wage; amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 
                  177.24, subdivision 1. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 177.24, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [AMOUNT.] (a) For purposes of this 
        subdivision, the terms defined in this paragraph have the 
        meanings given them.  
           (1) "Large employer" means an enterprise whose annual gross 
        volume of sales made or business done is not less than $362,500 
        $500,000 (exclusive of excise taxes at the retail level that are 
        separately stated) and covered by the Minnesota fair labor 
        standards act, sections 177.21 to 177.35. 
           (2) "Small employer" means an enterprise whose annual gross 
        volume of sales made or business done is less than $362,500 
        $500,000 (exclusive of excise taxes at the retail level that are 
        separately stated) and covered by the Minnesota fair labor 
        standards act, sections 177.21 to 177.35.  
           (b) Except as otherwise provided in sections 177.21 to 
        177.35, every large employer must pay each employee wages at a 
        rate of at least $4.25 $5.15 an hour beginning September 1, 1997.
        Every small employer must pay each employee at a rate of at 
        least $4 $4.90 an hour beginning January 1, 1998. 
           (c) A large employer must pay each employee at a rate of at 
        least the minimum wage set by this section or federal law 
        without the reduction for training wage or full-time student 
        status allowed under federal law.  Notwithstanding paragraph 
        (b), during the first 90 consecutive days of employment, an 
        employer may pay an employee under the age of 20 years a wage of 
        $4.25 an hour.  No employer may take any action to displace any 
        employee, including a partial displacement through a reduction 
        in hours, wages, or employment benefits, in order to hire an 
        employee at the wage authorized in this paragraph.  
           Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           Section 1 is effective September 1, 1997. 
           Presented to the governor August 20, 1997 
           Signed by the governor August 22, 1997, 10:53 a.m.