Lifeguards train for Grand Rapids city pool season

A lifeguard overlooks a pool on June 27, 2012. (Chris Clark | MLive.com)

(Chris Clark | MLive.com)

LANSING, MI -- Youth under 20 years old could make less than Michigan's minimum wage under a bill that's headed to the full Senate for consideration.

Under current law, employers can pay people under 18 either 85 percent of Michigan's minimum wage, or the federal minimum wage, whichever is greater. The bill would change that to include all employees under 20.

Michigan's minimum wage for those over 18 is currently $8.15, but if the bill were to go into effect today, employers could pay people under 20 the lower federal minimum wage of $7.25.

The bill also bumps up the "training wage," which employers can pay to people under the age of 20 for the first 90 days of employment, from $4.25 to $6.25 an hour. It was up for a hearing in the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday.

Bill sponsor Rep. Margaret O'Brien, R-Portage, said it's usually small local businesses who are willing to take a chance on giving somebody their first job. She knows firsthand that when her kids worked their first jobs at a concession stand they made a lot of mistakes.

"There's very few employers who will hire a 15, 16 or 17-year-old," O'Brien said.

Current law provides for a youth training wage of $4.25 for the first 90 days of employment for those under 20. O'Brien said that in talking to local businesses, not many use the training wage.

"Most of the employers I've talked to in my community do not have a youth training wage but they feel having a youth minimum wage will resolve their issues," O'Brien said.

She has the support of the Michigan Restaurant Association and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. But UAW Legislative Coordinator Tim Hughes testified against the bill, specifically the part that would set a lower minimum wage for adults under the age of 20.

"I don't see any reason for telling somebody who can serve their country in the military or vote that they should be paid 90 cents less," Hughes said.

Hughes also pointed to the rising cost of college tuition, saying that youth making 90 cents per hour less would add insult to injury.

Sen. Curtis Hertel, D-Lansing, is the committee's sole Democrat and was the only member to vote against the bill. It went 4-1 to the full Senate for consideration. It would need to pass the Senate, get through the House and be signed by the Governor to become law.

Emily Lawler is a Capitol/Business reporter for MLive. You can reach her at elawler@mlive.com, subscribe to her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter: @emilyjanelawler.