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Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
‘An Act To Raise the Minimum Wage Incrementally to $10 Per Hour in 2019’
Amend the bill by inserting after the title the following:
‘
‘Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  Maine's minimum wage has not increased since 2009; and
Whereas,  Maine workers who earn at or near the minimum wage are among the most economically vulnerable of our citizens; and
Whereas,  Maine is one of 2 states facing a so-called demographic winter characterized by fewer births than deaths and fewer new workers entering the workforce than older workers retiring from it; and
Whereas,  Maine's so-called demographic winter has created a net workforce shortage; and
Whereas,  an increase in the minimum wage addresses this workforce shortage by attracting more workers; and
Whereas,  to effect a minimum wage increase that Maine's small businesses can afford requires reasonable lead time for those employers to plan for the implementation of such an increase; and
Whereas,  6 months from the immediate enactment of this legislation is the shortest time period needed for employers to plan for the need to implement a higher wage without causing business disruptions and imposing costs adverse to employee welfare; and
Whereas,  this legislation raises the minimum wage on October 1, 2016 and emergency enactment is necessary to allow employers to plan for implementation without business disruptions and imposing costs adverse to employee welfare; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,’
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the summary and inserting the following:
‘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, 2016, the minimum hourly wage is $8.50 per hour. Starting October 1, 2017, the minimum hourly wage is $9.00 per hour. Starting October 1, 2018, the minimum hourly wage is $9.50 per hour. Starting October 1, 2019, the minimum hourly wage is $10.00 per hour. 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.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill. It raises the minimum wage to $8.50 per hour beginning October 1, 2016 and by $.50 per hour each year after that until it is $10.00 per hour in 2019. It adds an emergency preamble and an emergency clause.