(a) There is established the Connecticut Low Wage Employer Advisory Board. Such board shall advise the Labor Commissioner, the Departments of Social Services and Developmental Services and the Office of Early Childhood on matters related to: (1) The causes and effects of businesses paying low wages to residents of the state, (2) public assistance usage among working residents of the state, (3) minimum wage rates necessary to ensure working residents of the state may achieve an economically stable standard of living, (4) improvement of the quality of public assistance programs affecting such residents, (5) wages and working conditions for the workforce delivering services to low-wage working families, and (6) reliance of businesses on state-funded public assistance programs.

(b) In advising the Labor Commissioner, the Departments of Social Services and Developmental Services and the Office of Early Childhood on the matters described in subdivisions (1) to (6), inclusive, of subsection (a) of this section, the board shall:

(1) Study and monitor (A) the causes and effects of businesses paying low wages to residents of the state, including the impact of such labor practices on workers' need for public assistance, (B) the minimum wage rates necessary to enable working residents of the state to meet basic needs, such as food, housing, health care and child care without assistance from state-funded public assistance programs, and (C) the benefits received by employers from the provision of public assistance to the state workforce and solutions to associated problems;

(2) Consider, suggest and review legislative and agency proposals and actions regarding the matters described in subdivisions (1) to (6), inclusive, of subsection (a) of this section;

(3) Foster communication between working residents of the state who provide or receive public assistance and employers and state agencies for the purpose of improving the quality of state public assistance programs serving lower-income residents; and

(4) Advise the Labor Commissioner, and other interested state agencies or officials, on policies and procedures related to the board's areas of study, including, but not limited to, public assistance usage among lower-income working residents, the impact of public assistance programs on workforce quality and stability, and the wages and benefits necessary to maintain a stable and qualified workforce to administer and provide services in connection with public assistance programs.

(c) The board may form working groups, as necessary, to solicit feedback from stakeholders to enable the board to fulfill the duties and responsibilities set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section.

(d) Not later than December 1, 2015, and annually thereafter, the board shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to labor, human services and education, and to the Labor Commissioner, Commissioner of Social Services and Commissioner of Early Childhood. Such report shall be made available to the public in a form and manner prescribed by the board.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 4-9a, the board shall consist of the following members, each of whom shall serve an initial term of four years following the date of appointment:

(1) Five appointed by the Governor, (A) one of whom shall be an expert on the issues facing low wage workers, (B) one of whom shall be an expert on the labor force needs of the large business community, (C) one of whom shall be an expert on the labor force needs of the small business community, (D) one of whom shall be a recipient of consumer-directed Medicaid services, and (E) one of whom shall be a person enrolled in a state child care program;

(2) One appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, who shall represent an organization whose principal purpose is advocacy for services funded by consumer-directed Medicaid programs;

(3) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall represent an organization whose principal purpose is advocacy for services funded by state child care programs;

(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who shall be an organized labor representative who represents workers who provide services funded by consumer-directed Medicaid programs;

(5) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be an organized labor representative who represents workers who provide child care services funded by state child care programs;

(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who shall be a person with experience in the labor force needs of the large business community;

(7) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be a person with experience in the labor force needs of the small business community;

(8) The Labor Commissioner, or the commissioner's designee; and

(9) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's designee.

(f) All appointments to the board shall be made not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Following the expiration of their initial terms, subsequent members shall serve three-year terms. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority not later than thirty calendar days after the office becomes vacant. Any member previously appointed to the board may be reappointed.

(g) The members of the board shall elect two chairpersons of the board at the first meeting of the board, which shall be held not later than forty calendar days after June 30, 2015. The board shall meet at least quarterly.

(h) Each member shall serve without compensation but shall, within available appropriations, be reimbursed in accordance with standard travel reimbursement for state employees for all necessary expenses that they may incur through service on the board.

(i) Each member shall, not later than ten calendar days after the first meeting of the board, take an oath of office to diligently and honestly administer the affairs of the board, and will not knowingly violate or willingly permit to be violated any of the provisions of law applicable to their service on the board. The oath shall be administered by a chairperson of the board.

(j) Each member shall be entitled to one vote on the board. A majority of the members who have been appointed to the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business, the exercise of any power or the performance of any duty authorized or imposed by law.

(k) The board shall be within the Labor Department for administrative purposes only.

(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 485; P.A. 16-169, S. 23.)

History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 effective June 30, 2015; P.A. 16-169 amended Subsec. (d) to replace “Director of the Office of Early Childhood” with “Commissioner of Early Childhood”, effective June 6, 2016.

See Sec. 4-38f for definition of “administrative purposes only”.