Youth wages law up to voters; OK'd minimum-wage hike in '14

ARLINGTON, S.D. (AP) — Many teenagers are settling into school after a summer of taking home at least the state minimum wage of $8.55 an hour, but businesses hiring after Election Day could be able to pay minors less under a now-paused exemption.

Supporters of the youth minimum wage ballot issue argue it would help young people get their first job, and that the 2014 minimum wage campaign focused on adult workers who support a family, not on young workers.

Months later, the Republican-held Legislature carved out a $7.50 hourly wage for people under 18 that isn't tied to future cost-of-living increases.

Because activists were successful in sending the law to the voters, it didn't go into effect as intended in 2015, and the statewide minimum wage has since bumped up to $8.55.