Minimum wage

A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 41-1-125 SO AS TO PROVIDE A BASE STATE MINIMUM WAGE AND A SCHEDULE TO GRADUALLY IMPLEMENT AN ADJUSTED MINIMUM WAGE TO FIFTEEN DOLLARS PER HOUR OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD, TO PROVIDE A METHOD FOR CALCULATING FUTURE MANDATORY ADJUSTMENTS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE NOTIFICATION OF THESE ADJUSTMENTS TO EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, LICENSING AND REGULATION, TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR AN EMPLOYER TO FAIL TO PAY THE STATE MINIMUM WAGE OR TO RETALIATE AGAINST AN EMPLOYEE FOR CERTAIN ACTIONS REGARDING ENFORCEMENT OF THE STATE MINIMUM WAGE LAW, TO PROVIDE REMEDIES FOR VIOLATIONS, TO PROVIDE A FIVE-YEAR STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT ACTIONS BROUGHT PURSUANT TO THIS ACT MAY BE BROUGHT AS A CLASS ACTION UNDER STATE LAW; AND TO AMEND SECTION 6-1-130, RELATING TO THE SCOPE OF AUTHORITY OF A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE TO SET A MINIMUM WAGE RATE, AND SECTION 44-22-160, RELATING TO COMPENSATION OF MENTAL HEALTH PATIENTS FOR THERAPEUTIC EMPLOYMENT, BOTH SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.