Local government contractors could soon be allowed to reduce employee wages if a bill making its way through the Florida House becomes law.
The bill, HB 917, would allow Major League Baseball to pay minor league players less than the minimum wage, and could also bar local “living wage” ordinances like the ones that require companies with six-figure Miami-Dade County government contracts to pay their workers a higher hourly rate.
READ MORE: Thousands of workers could see cut in pay under Florida House plan for uniform wages
The bill has passed through several committees. However, a companion Senate bill, SB 892, doesn’t include language that would prohibit “living wage” ordinances.
Here’s what to know about the bills and how they could affect Floridians.
Florida law regulates base hourly pay by private companies. But dating back to 1999, local governments in Florida have passed ordinances that require companies with government contracts to pay employees above the state’s minimum wage, which currently sits at $11 an hour.
The proposal moving through the House would change that.
A House committee amended the proposal Monday so that current contracts couldn’t be affected. But if passed, the bill as constituted seeks to prohibit future living wage ordinances.
Miami-Dade’s living wage ordinance applies to companies with contracts with the county worth at least $100,000. It ensures more than 28,000 employees, including health care professionals, airport...
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