House Bill 1067 Summary

• Establishes a Mississippi state minimum wage beginning January 1, 2018, with rates increasing to $10.00 per hour by January 1, 2021, with subsequent adjustments tied to federal minimum wage increases.

• Creates the Mississippi Paid Family Leave Act providing eligible employees with 12 workweeks of paid leave for birth, adoption, placement, serious health conditions, or family care needs.

• Establishes the Mississippi Higher Education Grant Program for Single Mothers providing grants of at least $1,500 annually for low-income single mothers to attend Mississippi public and nonprofit colleges and universities.

• Enacts the Mississippi Pay Equity Act prohibiting gender-based wage discrimination for comparable work and allowing employees to file circuit court petitions for violations with remedies including back pay, liquidated damages, and attorney's fees.

• Requires minimum spending of $20 million annually on child care payment programs from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds and expands the Mississippi State Workforce Investment Board to include a woman with expertise in assisting women in nontraditional occupations.