New State Laws Affect Minimum Wage Earners, Nurses, Teachers and Others

Connecticut's new $19 billion state budget for 2014-15 took effect Tuesday. One impact will be the elimination of the 6.35 percent state sales tax on clothing and footwear costing less than $50, which will go into effect July 1, 2015.

The budget plan increases state spending by about 2.5 percent over the current fiscal year, which ended on June 30. Several other planned tax breaks are being postponed under this budget because the state can't afford them right now.

Although Republicans panned the spending plan as chock full of gimmicks, Democrats praised it for directing state money toward education, transportation infrastructure, housing, and social service needs.

Connecticut's controversial new law to increase the minimum wage also takes effect on Tuesday, but its actual effect won't be felt until next Jan. 1, when the current $8.70 minimum wage rises to $9.15. It increases to $9.60 on Jan. 1, 2016, and to $10.10 on Jan. 1, 2017.

http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-new-state-laws-july1-0701-20140630,0,456339.story