LANSING, MI - The Michigan legislature is considering changes to two new laws on sick time and minimum wage.

In September, the Republican-led legislature adopted the measures instead of letting them go to the ballot. Doing so meant they could come back and amend them with a simple majority, instead of the two-thirds vote it would have taken to make changes passed at the ballot box.

Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive, said changes to the proposals would focus on "making it more acceptable to the business community so we continue to keep our economy on track."

Bringing back the wage for tipped workers

As written, the new law slowly brings minimum wage for tipped workers like waiters and bartenders up to the same level as regular minimum wage and raises minimum wage to $12 per hour by 2022. It doesn't go into effect until March of next year.

Sen. Dave Hildenbrand, R-Lowell, introduced a bill to bring back the different minimum wage for tipped employees. Hildenbrand said he proposed the change because he heard from tipped workers and restaurant owners that as written, the law would be detrimental.

"The feedback to me is a lot of them would actually make less than what they're currently making," Hildenbrand said.

The Restaurant Workers of America oppose the inclusion of tipped workers in standard minimum wage, arguing the increase in minimum wage would decrease the tipping culture and actually result in lower wages for people in tipped positions.

Senate Bill 1171 would remove tipped employees from that minimum wage structure, establishing their minimum wage at 38 percent of minimum wage.

When the law is fully implemented, and minimum wage is $12 per hour in 2022, that means the minimum wage for tipped employees would be $4.56. Right now, it's $3.52. Under the bill, employers would still have to make up wages if an employee's tips plus wage didn't add up to minimum wage.

The Restaurant Workers of America praised the legislation.

"We appreciate Sen. Hildenbrand introducing this legislation to keep servers and bartenders safe from outside influences trying to disrupt our livelihoods, industry, and culture that we know and love," said Daniel Tucker, a manager and server at Lansing Brewing Co. and a captain for Restaurant Workers of America.

But One Fair Wage, the group that gathered signatures for the ballot proposal initially, opposes changes.

"We urge lawmakers to uphold the constitution, protect the democratic process and allow the voices of nearly half a million Michigan citizens to be heard," said Dr. Alicia Renee Farris, One Fair Wage Steering Committee Chair. "Amending the One Fair Wage proposal after it was adopted sets a horrible precedent and effectively closes off a legal avenue for citizens to enact laws through popular initiatives."

While Hildenbrand is focused on the tip piece right now, he said other lawmakers are considering changing other parts of the law as well.

"I do think it's worthwhile to take a holistic look at it and see if there are other changes that need to take place," Hildenbrand said.

Changes to sick time law

Under the new paid sick time law, Michigan workers would be able to accrue one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, capping out at 72 hours per year for larger businesses and 40 hours per year for small businesses, which must also allow unpaid leave. Both sizes of business could elect to offer more paid sick leave. It doesn't take effect until March.

But Senate Bill 1175, introduced by Senate Majority Leader-elect Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, would require employers to retain records related to employee sick time for a shorter period of time, six months instead of three years.

The bill also takes out a "rebuttable presumption" that would have put the onus on the employer in court if the employer took adverse action against an employee within 90 days of the employee doing something like filing a complaint about the employer breaking the law, cooperating in a related investigation or informing somebody else of their rights under the law.

The changes are opposed by MI Time to Care, the group that worked to get the proposal on the ballot.

"Right now Michigan law guarantees every worker the right to earn paid sick time," said Kyle DuBuc, director of policy, advocacy and government relations at United Way for Southeastern Michigan, a steering committee member of MI Time to Care.

"The policy's overwhelming popularity made it certain to pass had it gone to the ballot. Why would the Senate enact something the people of Michigan clearly want, only to change it?"

The proposed changes could also draw opposition from Democrats.

Rep. and Senate Minority Floor Leader-elect Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, has introduced legislation in the House for paid sick leave and thinks it's good public policy. She hadn't seen specific language during an interview on Thursday but spoke generally about attempts to change the law.

"I think many of us are open to conversation, but I think it's really clear that we need to work hard to protect the policy that voters wanted," Chang said.

Note: This story has been changed to reflect a difference between paid sick time requirements for large and small businesses.