House File 2403 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY COMMITTEE ON LABOR (SUCCESSOR TO HF 675) (SUCCESSOR TO HF 313) Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to the establishment of a study of the economic, 2 fiscal, and social impact of the living wage in Iowa. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 6538HZ 82 5 ak/nh/8 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. LIVING WAGE IMPACT STUDY. 1 2 1. If funding is approved or appropriated to the state 1 3 board of regents for such purposes, Iowa state university 1 4 shall conduct a study regarding the economic, fiscal, and 1 5 social impacts of establishing the living wage, also known as 1 6 the self=sufficiency wage, in Iowa. The living wage in the 1 7 study shall be based on a forty=hour work week, and the study 1 8 shall provide all of the following: 1 9 a. A two=tiered living wage, one tier with benefits and 1 10 one without benefits, for family sizes ranging from two people 1 11 to six people for all ninety=nine counties. 1 12 b. The impact that a living wage would have on full=time 1 13 workers, the multiplier effect of a living wage on the 1 14 economy, and whether more jobs would be created by this 1 15 multiplier effect. 1 16 c. How a living wage would impact public assistance 1 17 programs, particularly whether it would reduce costs. 1 18 d. How a living wage would impact state and local economic 1 19 development programs. 1 20 e. How a living wage would assist or hinder the housing 1 21 market. 1 22 f. Taking into account paragraphs "b", "c", "d", and "e", 1 23 examine whether there would be an overall positive impact on 1 24 the economy considering possible business concerns of 1 25 inflation and job loss. 1 26 g. Evaluate other states or metropolitan areas that have a 1 27 living wage to provide examples of how a living wage could be 1 28 implemented on a phased=in basis for all workers in this 1 29 state, including the private and public sectors. 1 30 h. Any other recommendations that the individuals assigned 1 31 to the study believe are relevant to establishing a living 1 32 wage in this state. 1 33 2. An Iowa state university sociology professor, an Iowa 1 34 state university human development and family studies 1 35 professor, and an Iowa state university economics professor, 2 1 all who specialize in this area, shall conduct and coordinate 2 2 the study. 2 3 3. The department of workforce development, the department 2 4 of economic development, the department of human services, the 2 5 university of Iowa, the university of northern Iowa, the child 2 6 and family policy center, the Iowa policy project, and 2 7 representatives of labor organizations and associations 2 8 representing business and industry shall cooperate in 2 9 conducting the study. 2 10 4. Iowa state university shall submit a report about the 2 11 findings of the study to the general assembly by December 14, 2 12 2008. 2 13 EXPLANATION 2 14 This bill directs Iowa state university, contingent upon 2 15 funding, to conduct a study regarding the economic, fiscal, 2 16 and social effects that a living wage, or self=sufficiency 2 17 wage, would have in Iowa. The bill details the criteria that 2 18 the study must include. Three Iowa state university 2 19 professors with specialized knowledge in this area shall 2 20 conduct and coordinate the study. 2 21 The bill requires that the department of workforce 2 22 development, department of economic development, department of 2 23 human resources, the university of Iowa, the university of 2 24 northern Iowa, the child and family policy center, the Iowa 2 25 policy project, and representatives of labor organizations and 2 26 business and industry associations also participate in the 2 27 study. 2 28 A report on the study's findings is due to the legislature 2 29 by December 14, 2008. 2 30 LSB 6538HZ 82 2 31 ak/nh/8