Vermont H. 713: An act relating to prohibiting price gouging for essential off-patent or generic drugs

Bill Text

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H.713 1
Introduced by Representatives Greer of Bennington, Cina of Burlington, and 2
Headrick of Burlington 3
Referred to Committee on 4
Date: 5
Subject: Labor; employment practices; minimum wages; national fast food 6
chain; Fast Food Council 7
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to increase the 8
minimum wage for employees working for a national fast food chain. This bill 9
also proposes to create the Fast Food Council to recommend future increases to 10
the minimum wage and other minimum employment standards for employees 11
working for a national fast food chain. 12
An act relating to raising the minimum wage for employees working for a 13
national fast food chain 14
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 15
Sec. 1. 21 V.S.A. § 384 is amended to read: 16
§ 384. EMPLOYMENT; WAGES 17
(a)(1) Beginning on January 1, 2022, an employer shall not employ any 18
employee at a rate of less than $12.55, and on each subsequent January 1, the 19
minimum wage rate shall be increased by five percent or the percentage 20

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increase of the Consumer Price Index, CPI-U, U.S. city average, not seasonally 1
adjusted, or successor index, as calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor or 2
successor agency, rounded to one decimal point, for the 12 months preceding 3
the previous September 1, whichever is smaller, but in no event shall the 4
minimum wage be decreased. The minimum wage shall be rounded off to the 5
nearest $0.01. 6
(2) An employer in the hotel, motel, tourist place, and restaurant 7
industry shall not employ a service or tipped employee at a basic wage rate less 8
than one-half the minimum wage. As used in this subdivision, “a service or 9
tipped employee” means an employee of a hotel, motel, tourist place, or 10
restaurant who customarily and regularly receives more than $120.00 per 11
month in tips for direct and personal customer service. 12
(3) Beginning on January 1, 2027, the hourly minimum wage for 13
individuals employed by a nationwide fast food chain shall be $20.00 per hour, 14
and on each subsequent January 1, the minimum wage rate shall be increased 15
by the same percentage as the annual increase set forth in subdivision (1) of 16
this subsection. As used in this subdivision, “a nationwide fast food chain” 17
means a set of limited-service restaurants consisting of more than 60 18
establishments nationally that share a common brand, or that are characterized 19
by standardized options for decor, marketing, packaging, products, and 20
services, and which are primarily engaged in providing food and beverages for 21

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immediate consumption on or off the premises where patrons generally order 1
or select items and pay before consuming, with limited or no table service. 2
This subdivision applies regardless of whether the employer owns the national 3
brand or is a franchisee or licensee of the national brand. A “limited-service 4
restaurant” includes establishments with the North American Classification 5
System Code of 722513. 6
(4) If the minimum wage rate established by the U.S. government is 7
greater than the rate established pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection 8
for any year, the minimum wage rate for that year shall be the rate established 9
by the U.S. government. 10
* * * 11
Sec. 2. FAST FOOD COUNCIL; REPORT 12
(a) Creation. The Fast Food Council is created within the Department of 13
Labor for the purpose of studying and recommending minimum standards on 14
wages, working hours, and working conditions adequate to ensure and 15
maintain the health, safety, and welfare of individuals employed by nationwide 16
fast food chains. 17
(b) Membership. 18
(1) The Council shall consist of the following five voting members: 19
(A) a representative of the fast food restaurant industry, appointed by 20
the Governor; 21

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(B) a fast food restaurant franchisee or restaurant owner, appointed 1
by the Governor; 2
(C) a fast food restaurant employee, appointed by the Speaker of the 3
House; 4
(D) an advocate for fast food restaurant employees, appointed by the 5
Committee on Committees; and 6
(E) one unaffiliated member of the public, appointed by the 7
Governor, who: 8
(i) is not an owner, franchisee, officer, or employee in the fast 9
food restaurant industry; 10
(ii) is not an employee, officer, or member of a labor organization 11
representing fast food restaurant employees; and 12
(iii) who has not received income from the fast food restaurant 13
industry or any labor organization for a period of two years prior to 14
appointment. 15
(2) The Council shall consist of the following two nonvoting members: 16
(A) a representative from the Department of Labor, appointed by the 17
Commissioner of Labor;