SLS 19RS-436 ENGROSSED
2019 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 155
BY SENATORS CARTER, BARROW, BISHOP AND MORRELL
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
EMPLOYMENT. Constitutional amendment to establish a state minimum hourly wage of
nine dollars, effective July 1, 2020, and authorize the legislature to increase the minimum
wage by law. (2/3 - CA13s1(A))
1 A JOINT RESOLUTION
2 Proposing to add Article XII, Section 17 of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to a state
3 minimum hourly wage; to establish a state minimum hourly wage for all employers
4 effective July 1, 2020; to authorize the legislature, by law, to revise the state
5 minimum hourly wage and provide exemptions; and to specify an election for
6 submission of the proposition to electors and provide a ballot proposition.
7 Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members
8 elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state, for
9 their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to add Article XII,
10 Section 17 of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows:
11 ยง17. State Minimum Hourly Wage
12 Section 17. Effective July 1, 2020, there is hereby established a state minimum
13 wage every employer shall be required to pay each employee. The hourly rate of the
14 state minimum wage shall be nine dollars. The legislature may, however, provide by
15 law for an increase in the hourly rate, as well as exemptions from the minimum wage
16 requirement.
17 Section 2. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted to
Page 1 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 155
SLS 19RS-436 ENGROSSED
1 the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on October 12, 2019.
2 Section 3. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at said election
3 there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted
4 to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as
5 follows:
6 Do you support an amendment to establish a state minimum wage at the rate
7 of nine dollars per hour effective July 1, 2020, that may be increased by the
8 legislature?
9 (Adds Article XII, Sec. 17)
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot.
DIGEST
SB 155 Engrossed 2019 Regular Session Carter
Proposed constitutional amendment, effective July 1, 2020, establishes a state minimum
hourly wage that every employer shall be required to pay each employee of nine dollars.
Authorizes the legislature to, provide by law for an increase in the hourly rate, as well as
exemptions from the minimum wage requirement.
Specifies submission of the amendment to the voters at the statewide election to be held on
October 12, 2019.
(Adds Const. Art. XII, Sec. 17)
Page 2 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.