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An Act To Increase the Minimum Wage
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 26 MRSA §664, sub-§1,  as amended by PL 2007, c. 640, §4, is further amended to read:
 
1. Minimum wage.   The minimum hourly wage is $6.50 per hour. Starting October 1, 2006, the minimum hourly wage is $6.75 per hour. Starting October 1, 2007, the minimum hourly wage is $7.00 per hour. Starting October 1, 2008, the minimum hourly wage is $7.25 per hour. Starting October 1, 2009, the minimum hourly wage is $7.50 per hour. Starting October 1, 2010, the minimum hourly wage is $8.20 per hour. Starting October 1, 2011, the minimum hourly wage is $8.90 per hour. On October 31, 2011 and on October 31st each year thereafter, the Department of Labor shall calculate an adjusted minimum wage rate to maintain employee purchasing power. The adjusted minimum wage must be calculated to the nearest cent using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers or a successor index for the 12 months prior to each September 1st. Each adjusted minimum wage rate so calculated takes effect January 1st of the following year. If the highest federal minimum wage is increased in excess of the minimum wage in effect under this section, the minimum wage under this section is increased to the same amount, effective on the same date as the increase in the federal minimum wage, but in no case may the minimum wage exceed the minimum wage otherwise in effect under this section by more than $1 per hour.
 
SUMMARY
This bill increases the minimum wage to $8.20 per hour in 2010 and to $8.90 in 2011. Each year after that, the minimum wage is adjusted based on changes in prices, so that the minimum hourly wage rate maintains employee purchasing power. The price adjustment is based on the change in the Consumer Price Index.