Labor & Employment (Public Employees)

This bill (A 2696) requires state and municipal governments to pay all public employees the minimum wage, eliminating previous exemptions. It amends the labor law to explicitly include "state or local government" as an employer under minimum wage rules, removing exceptions that previously allowed lower pay for workers in public institutions (like schools or government offices). The change directly affects public employees at all levels of government who were previously excluded from minimum wage protections under certain exemptions. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.