minimum wage; increase; definitions

HB 2899 establishes a phased increase to Arizona's minimum wage, starting at $10 per hour in 2017 and rising to $18 per hour by 2020. It then automatically adjusts annually based on inflation (measured by the U.S. consumer price index) and includes a specific timeline for eliminating the "tip credit" for tipped workers: employers may pay up to $3 less than the minimum wage until 2026, $2 less until 2027, $1 less until 2028, and must pay the full minimum wage starting in 2029. The bill directly affects all covered employees in Arizona, including those in tipped occupations, by guaranteeing they earn at least the minimum wage when tips are added to base pay. It repeals previous minimum wage laws and requires a three-fourths legislative vote for enactment under Arizona's constitution.