Md. Becomes First State to Implement Living Wage

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Maryland becomes the first state to implement a so-called living-wage law as a new law goes into effect Monday.

It sets a higher minimum wage for state contractors. They'll make $11.30 an hour in the Baltimore-Washington area and $8.50 an hour in rural areas if the state contract is $100,000 or more and is awarded after Oct. 1. The state's minimum wage is $6.15.

Maryland Labor Secretary Tom Perez calls the law historic.

"It simply reflects the basic value judgement of the governor and others that we want to take the term 'working poor' out of the lexicon," Perez says. "We want to make sure that if you're working hard and playing by the rules, you can earn a fair wage."

The Maryland Chamber of Commerce though is still worried about the cost of implementing the law.

Other laws that go into effect include the following:

• A law that bans smoking ban in bars and restaurants also goes on the books Monday but won't affect smokers until Feb. 1.

• Also teens who ditch school more than 10 days in a semester won't be able to get their learner's permits.

• Maryland also will not allow parole for child rapists. Any adult convicted of a sex offense or rape against someone under 13 will face a mandatory sentence of 25 years to life in prison on a first-degree conviction.

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