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House Committee Set To Take Up Youth Minimum Wage Measure

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A state House committee is expected to take up a proposal to exempt youth from the minimum wage hike to $8.50 that voters approved in November.

The House Commerce and Energy Committee on Wednesday is scheduled to review the plan, which would carve out a $7.50 youth minimum wage.

Republican Sen. David Novstrup has said the evidence he’s seen shows that states with a higher minimum wage also have higher youth unemployment.

His proposal would affect people under age 18, and the $7.50 youth wage wouldn’t be subject to future cost of living increases.

Novstrup has said that the discussion around the ballot proposal that passed in November wasn’t around younger workers.

He has said his proposal is a small change to the law.