AN ACT relating to minimum wage for essential workers.

HB 593 would establish a new minimum wage rate specifically for "essential employees" in Kentucky. It defines essential employees as hourly workers in sectors like healthcare, emergency services, critical food supply chains, public works, transportation, and government operations - those declared essential by executive order. The bill amends existing law to set this separate minimum wage for these workers, distinct from the general minimum wage. This change directly affects hourly workers in these designated industries who would now receive the new rate instead of the standard minimum wage.