Substitute House Bill No. 6842 establishes new regulations regarding the minimum fair wage for employees at cannabis establishments in Connecticut. The bill introduces definitions for "bona fide labor organizations" and "labor peace agreements," requiring cannabis establishments to enter into labor peace agreements with recognized labor unions as a prerequisite for obtaining or converting their licenses. It also sets forth criteria for labor unions seeking to represent cannabis workers, including an application process for inclusion on an official list. The bill outlines the consequences for non-compliance with arbitration awards related to these agreements and includes provisions for the suspension of licenses for such non-compliance.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that gratuities will not be considered part of the minimum fair wage for employees at cannabis establishments, ensuring that all employees receive at least the minimum wage as defined in existing law. It explicitly prohibits the labor commissioner from counting tips towards the minimum wage requirement for these employees and states that any cannabis establishment paying less than the state minimum wage is in violation of the law. The bill repeals the previous section 21a-421d and replaces it with the new language, while also deleting certain provisions related to the sale and transfer of cannabis. The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 31-60
LAB Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 507: