Arizona gives back control of minimum wage to communities
Jun 30, 2015, 1:15 PM | Updated: 1:16 pm
PHOENIX — The state of Arizona agreed to give back control over
setting a local minimum wage to cities and counties as part of a settlement of a
lawsuit that accuses the Legislature of taking away that power from communities.
The settlement announced Tuesday said the Legislature’s 2013 law that stripped
communities of their power to set a local minimum wage violates constitutional
protections that bars lawmakers from repealing voter-approved laws.
The resolution clears the way for advocates for establishing a local minimum
wage to seek increases in communities across the state.
Voters approved a 2006 proposal that lets communities set a minimum wage that’s
higher than the standard set by the state.
In 2013, lawmakers passed a bill preventing communities from regulating employee
benefits, such as minimum wage.