COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20004

 

             

TO:                  Nyasha Smith, Secretary to the Council

              

FROM:            Phil Mendelson, Chairman

                                                     

DATE:             September 27, 2018

 

                               

               I request that the following measure be placed on the agenda for the October 2, 2018 Legislative Meeting:

 

• “Tipped Wage Workers Fairness Emergency Amendment Act of 2018”
• “Tipped Wage Workers Fairness Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2018”

 

                This legislation would repeal DC Act 22-436, “Initiative 77 – Minimum Wage Amendment Act of 2018.”  On June 19, 2018 District voters approved DC Act 22-436, which steadily increases the “tipped minimum wage” between July 1, 2018 and July 1, 2025 and eliminates the “tipped minimum wage” entirely by July 1, 2026.  Currently, the “tipped minimum wage” is $3.89.  Beginning on July 1, 2018, DC Act 22-436 would increase the “tipped minimum wage” to $4.50.  However, because DC Act 22-436 was not yet law on July 1, 2018, the “tipped minimum wage” did not increase to $4.50 at that time.  

 

DC Act 22-436 is projected to become law on October 9, 2018.  When DC 22-436 becomes law, the “tipped minimum wage” will immediately increase to $4.50, and because DC Act 22-436 requires the increase to occur as of July 1, 2018 and does not provide for a grace period, employers may owe their tipped employees back pay from July 1, 2018 until October 9, 2018.  Accordingly, if the Council is to address Imitative 77, it needs to do so immediately.