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ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE LIVING WAGE ORDINANCE; AMENDING SECTION 2-8.9 OF THE CODE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, TO UPDATE WAGE AND HEALTH BENEFIT RATES; PROVIDING SEVERABILITY, INCLUSION IN THE CODE, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE

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WHEREAS, in 1999, this Board adopted Ordinance 99-44, the Living Wage Ordinance
because the County recognized that it has a responsibility when spending public funds to set a community standard that permits full-time workers to live above the poverty line; and
WHEREAS, in adopting the Living Wage Ordinance, the County found that sub-poverty level wages do not serve the public purpose because such wages place an undue burden on taxpayers and the community to subsidize employers paying inadequate wages by providing their employees social services such as health care, housing, nutrition, and energy assistance; and
WHEREAS, the Living Wage Ordinance in 1999 established a Living Wage of no less than $8.56 per hour with health benefits or a wage rate of $9.81 per hour without health benefits which meant that the cost of qualifying health benefits was set at $1.25 per hour; and
WHEREAS, since 1999, the wage rate and health benefit differential of the Living Wage Ordinance has been adjusted annually utilizing the Consumer Price Index calculated by the U.S. Department of Commerce as applied to the County of Miami-Dade; and
WHEREAS, the indexed wage rate has effectively kept pace with inflation, ensuring wages are sufficient to permit workers to live above the poverty line; and


WHEREAS, the general Consumer Price Index has proven inadequate when applied to the inflationary effects on health benefits, as evidenced by the current health benefit differential of $1.83 an hour, which is estimated to be $1.06 less than required to provide for basic health insurance; and
WHEREAS, the consumer price index for medical costs in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area is a more appropriate index to utilize when adjusting compensation for health benefits; and
WHEREAS, in a 2014 health benefits survey, the Kaiser Family Foundation found that �the average annual premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance are $6,025 for single coverage and $16,834 for family coverage.� Assuming a 40 hour workweek, this translates to a minimum of $2.89 per hour for a health benefit plan; and
WHEREAS, the Living Wage Ordinance needs to be amended to accurately reflect current healthcare costs in compliance with this Board�s policy goals of setting a community standard for living wages; and
WHEREAS, as it pertains to the health benefits provisions, the Living Wage Ordinance should incorporate the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index for medical costs in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area; and
WHEREAS, making these changes to update the Living Wage Ordinance after 15 years is in the best interest of Miami-Dade County,




NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA:
Section 1. Section 2-8.9 of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida, is hereby amended to read as follows:1
Sec. 2-8.9. Living Wage Ordinance for County Service Contracts and County Employees.

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Living Wage.
(A) Living wage paid.

(1) Service contractors. All service contractors as defined by this Chapter, performing covered services shall pay to all of its employees providing covered services, the current Living Wage rate >>of $12.63 per hour with a qualifying Health Benefit Plan valued at no less than $2.89 per hour per employee and $15.52 per hour if no qualifying Health Benefit Plan is provided by the Service Contractor<<, applicable to the time when the covered service is performed as that rate is adjusted each fiscal year in the manner provided for herein for the adjustment of the Living Wage rate.

(B) Health Benefit Plan.

(1) For a covered employer or the County to comply with the Living Wage provision by choosing to pay the lower wage scale when a covered employer also provides a Health Benefit Plan, such Health Benefit Plan shall consist of payment of >>$2.89 per hour per employee commencing in health benefit plan year 2017 and for subsequent years the amount shall be adjusted by the percentage change in the consumer price index for medical care for the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area published by the United States Department of Labor.<< [[the current rate applicable to the time when the covered service is performed as that rate is adjusted each budget year in the manner provided for herein for the adjustment of the Living Wage rate towards the provision of a Health Benefit Plan for employees and, if applicable, their dependents.]] The minimum amount of payment by a Service Contractor for the provision of a Health Benefit Plan on a per-hour basis will be calculated based on a maximum of a 40-hour work week. Overtime hours will not require additional payments towards the provision of a Health Benefit Plan. If the Service Contractor pays less than the required amount for providing a Health Benefit Plan provided in this section, then the Service Contractor may comply with the Living Wage requirements by paying the covered employee the difference between the premium it pays for the Health Benefit Plan of the Covered Employee and the minimum amount required by this section for a qualifying Health Benefit Plan. The Service Contractor may require that all employees enroll in a Health Benefit Plan offered by the Service Contractor, provided that the employee is not required to pay a premium contribution for employee-only coverage. Proof of the provision of a Health Benefit Plan must be submitted to the County to qualify to pay the applicable wage rate for employees with a qualifying Health Benefit Plan. Health Benefit Plan for purposes of complying with this section shall qualify if it includes the benefits contained in a standard health benefit plan meeting the requirements set forth in � 627.6699(12)(a), Florida Statutes.

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(C) Indexing. The living wage will be annually indexed to inflation as defined by the Consumer Price Index calculated by the U.S. Department of Commerce as applied to the County of Miami-Dade. The first indexing adjustment shall occur for the 2001-2002 County budget year using the Consumer Price Index figures provided for the calendar year ended December 31, 2000, and thereafter on an annual basis. >>Commencing October 1, 2017, the $2.89 cost for a qualifying health benefit plan shall be adjusted based on the consumer price index for medical care for the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area and that indexed cost shall be added to the existing Living Wage rate when a qualifying Health Benefit Plan is provided to determine the newly adjusted Living Wage rate without qualifying health benefits. <<


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Section 2. The requirements of this Ordinance shall apply to any contracts entered into, extended (by exercise of option to renew or otherwise), amended, or modified on or after October 1, 2016, and to any existing and future permits subject to the Living Wage Ordinance.
Section 3. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or provision of this ordinance is held invalid, the remainder of this ordinance shall not be affected by such invalidity.
Section 4. It is the intention of the Board of County Commissioners, and it is hereby ordained that the provisions of this ordinance, including any sunset provision, shall become and be made a part of the Code of Miami-Dade County, Florida. The sections of this ordinance may be renumbered or relettered to accomplish such intention, and the word "ordinance" may be changed to "section," "article," or other appropriate word.
Section 5. The Mayor is hereby directed to transmit to this Board a detailed report of the financial impact of this ordinance within one year of the effective date of this Ordinance, and to place the completed report on an agenda of the Board pursuant to Ordinance No. 14-65.
Section 6. This ordinance shall become effective ten (10) days after the date of enactment unless vetoed by the Mayor, and if vetoed, shall become effective only upon an override by this Board.

1 Words stricken through and/or [[double bracketed]] shall be deleted. Words underscored and/or >>double arrowed<< constitute the amendment proposed. Remaining provisions are now in effect and remain unchanged.