A Senate bill that would allow workers to be paid less than the minimum wage appears to have stalled in its latest committee hearing.
Sen. Jonathan Martin (R-Fort Myers) temporarily postponed the bill (SB 676) in the Senate Rules Committee on Monday. Martin said he was doing so to keep the bill "alive."
SB 676 would allow an individual to opt out of receiving at least the state minimum wage through programs like work-study, internships, or pre-apprenticeships.
This one might not be so surprising in hindsight. In earlier Senate committee meetings, many young people testified against the bill, arguing in part that Florida's minimum wage of $13 was already tough as it is to make ends meet.
"It will probably come over in messages. I'm going to TP (temporarily postpone) this bill," Martin said in the Rules Committee.
The circumstances are also a bit more iffy when you consider the House already passed its version of the bill (HB 541) in committee. Sponsored by Rep. Ryan Chamberlin (R-Belleview), the bill is awaiting a floor vote.
Rep. Chamberlin's bill specifies ways in which an employer does not have to pay Florida’s minimum wage to certain workers if they opt out. Specifically, it applies to work study or internships, and others.
In HB 541, the opt-out can last up to nine months.
To opt out, an employer would simply have to sign a waiver. The omission would thus withdraw his or her right to minimum wage.
However, an employer is forbidden from forcing the waiver to be signed. Parents or guardians also have to sign off for persons under the age of 18.
What happens with HB 541 now is anyone's guess. If passed and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis into law, the bill would take effect on July 1.
