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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Regular Session, 2012 ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 521
BY SENATOR JOHNS
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact the heading of R.S. 23:642 and 642(A)(2), (3), and (B), relative to2
employment; to prohibit a parish or municipality from establishing certain minimum,3
mandatory leave days; and to provide for related matters.4
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:5
Section 1. The heading of R.S. 23:642 and 642(A)(2), (3), and (B) are hereby6
amended and reenacted to read as follows: 7
ยง642. Setting minimum wage or employee benefits, prohibited8
A. * * *9
(2) The legislature further finds that wages and employee benefits comprise10
the most significant expense of operating a business. It also recognizes that neither11
potential employees nor business patrons are likely to restrict themselves to12
employment opportunities or goods and services providers in any particular parish13
or municipality. Consequently, local variation in legally required minimum wage14
rates or mandatory, minimum number of vacation or sick leave days would15
threaten many businesses with a loss of employees to areas which require a higher16
minimum wage rate and many other businesses with the loss of patrons to areas17
which allow for a lower wage rate and more or less vacation or sick leave days.18
The net effect of this situation would be detrimental to the business environment of19
the state and to the citizens, businesses, and governments of the various local20
jurisdictions as well as the local labor market.21
(3) The legislature concludes from these findings that, in order for a business22
to remain competitive and yet to attract and retain the highest possible caliber of23
employees, and thereby to remain sound, an enterprise must work in a uniform24
environment with respect to minimum wage rates and mandatory, minimum25
number of vacation or sick leave days. The net impact of local variation in26
mandated wages and mandatory, minimum number of vacation or sick leave27
ACT No. 667 SB NO. 521 ENROLLED
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
days would be economic instability and decline and a decrease in the standard of1
living for the citizens of the state. Consequently, decisions regarding minimum wage2
and employee benefit policy must be made by the state so that consistency in the3
wage market is preserved.4
B. Therefore, pursuant to the police powers ultimately reserved to the state5
by Article VI, Section 9 of the Constitution of Louisiana, no local governmental6
subdivision shall establish a mandatory, minimum number of vacation or sick7
leave days, whether paid or unpaid, or a minimum wage rate which a private8
employer would be required to pay or grant employees.9
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED: