Florida lawmakers backed off a bill that could have cut the paychecks of tens of thousands of Floridians.
Instead, only minor league baseball players could see lower wages — eventually.
The Florida House of Representatives on Tuesday approved SB 892, which would allow baseball players to be paid less than the state’s $11 hourly minimum wage. The bill now heads to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his signature.
By approving SB 892, House members decided against their own version of the bill, which would have eliminated local “living wage” ordinances that help boost the wages of tens of thousands of Floridians.
Although the state’s minimum wage law is enshrined in the state Constitution, some counties and cities have adopted ordinances requiring private contractors that do business with local government to provide “living wages” to their employees that are above the minimum wage.
In Miami-Dade County, for example, more than 28,000 employees across more than 1,000 companies are required to make at least $15.03 per hour with health benefits and $18.73 per hour without health benefits. Many of the contractors provide security, food service and custodial work.
Florida senators refused to eliminate living wage ordinances, and they voted unanimously for SB 892 last week.
Baseball players are already exempt from the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, which sets various wage and labor laws including the minimum wage.
Republican lawmakers said SB 892 makes Florida’s minimum wage law consistent...
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