S 159

Abstract

A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA MINIMUM WAGE ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 3 TO CHAPTER 10, TITLE 41 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A CITATION AND THE PURPOSE OF THE ACT, TO PROVIDE EMPLOYERS SHALL PAY EMPLOYEES A CERTAIN MINIMUM WAGE, TO PROVIDE A MECHANISM FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKFORCE TO ADJUST THIS MINIMUM WAGE BY THE RATE OF INFLATION ANNUALLY, TO PROVIDE IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR AN EMPLOYER TO RETALIATE AGAINST AN EMPLOYEE WHO EXERCISES HIS RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THIS MINIMUM WAGE, AND TO PROVIDE CERTAIN REMEDIES TO THE EMPLOYEE AND STATE, TO PROVIDE A STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS, TO PROVIDE THAT AN ACTION BROUGHT UNDER THE ACT MAY BE BROUGHT AS A CLASS ACTION, AND TO LIMIT AUTHORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT WITH RESPECT TO IMPLEMENTING THE ACT; 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, TO AMEND SECTION 44-22-160, RELATING TO COMPENSATION OF MENTAL HEALTH PATIENTS FOR THERAPEUTIC EMPLOYMENT, TO AMEND SECTION 53-1-100, RELATING TO COMPENSATION FOR SUNDAY WORK BY MACHINE SHOP EMPLOYEES, AND TO AMEND SECTION 53-1-110, RELATING TO COMPENSATION FOR SUNDAY WORK BY A PERSON EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OR FINISHING OF TEXTILE PRODUCTS, ALL SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; AND TO DESIGNATE THE EXISTING SECTIONS OF CHAPTER 10, TITLE 41 AS ARTICLE 1 ENTITLED "PAYMENT OF WAGES GENERALLY".