HF 20 (LSB 1234HH (1) 85)

HOUSE FILE 20

BY  HUNTER

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to a study of the economic, fiscal, and social impact of the living wage in Iowa.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  LIVING WAGE IMPACT STUDY.
   1.  If funding is approved or appropriated to the state board of regents for such purposes, Iowa state university shall conduct a study regarding the economic, fiscal, and social impacts of establishing the living wage, also known as the self-sufficiency wage, in Iowa. The living wage in the study shall be based on a 40-hour work week, and the study shall provide all of the following:
   a.  A two-tiered living wage, one tier with benefits and one without benefits, for family sizes ranging from two people to six people for all 99 counties.
   b.  The impact that a living wage would have on full-time workers, the multiplier effect of a living wage on the economy, and whether more jobs would be created by this multiplier effect.
   c.  How a living wage would impact public assistance programs, particularly whether it would reduce costs.
   d.  How a living wage would impact state and local economic development programs.
   e.  How a living wage would assist or hinder the housing market.
   f.  Taking into account paragraphs “b”, “c”, “d”, and “e”, examine whether there would be an overall positive impact on the economy considering possible business concerns of inflation and job loss.
   g.  Evaluate other states or metropolitan areas that have a living wage to provide examples of how a living wage could be implemented on a phased-in basis for all workers in this state, including the private and public sectors.
   h.  Any other recommendations that the individuals assigned to the study believe are relevant to establishing a living wage in this state.
   2.  An Iowa state university sociology professor, an Iowa state university human development and family studies professor, and an Iowa state university economics professor, all who specialize in this area, shall conduct and coordinate the study.
   3.  The department of workforce development, the economic development authority, the department of human services, the university of Iowa, the university of northern Iowa, the child and family policy center, the Iowa policy project, and representatives of labor organizations and associations representing business and industry shall cooperate in conducting the study.
   4.  Iowa state university shall submit a report regarding the findings of the study to the general assembly by December 13, 2013.
EXPLANATION
   This bill directs Iowa state university, contingent upon funding, to conduct a study regarding the economic, fiscal, and social effects that a living wage, or self-sufficiency wage, would have in Iowa. The bill details the criteria that the study must include. Three Iowa state university professors with specialized knowledge in this area shall conduct and coordinate the study.
   The bill requires that the department of workforce development, the economic development authority, the department of human resources, the university of Iowa, the university of northern Iowa, the child and family policy center, the Iowa policy project, and representatives of labor organizations and business and industry associations also participate in the study.
   A report on the study’s findings is due to the legislature by December 13, 2013.