Two very significant changes occured on January 1, 2001 with regard to the way environmental educators are employed. First, the minimum wage increased to $6.25 per hour. Second, the Industrial Welfare Commission Orders changed to implement AB 60: Eight Hour Day Restoration and Workplace Flexibility Act of 1999 do not allow many environmental educators to be exempt salaried employees.
The current minimum wage order is at http://www.dir.ca.gov/Iwc/Minwage2001.pdf (Acrobat document) or http://www.dir.ca.gov/DIRNews/2000/IR2000-17.html (text).
Exceptions to and implementation of the minimum wage is in the Industrial Welfare Commission orders at http://www.dir.ca.gov/Iwc/WageOrderIndustries.htm.Implemtation of AB 60 changed two important criteria for inclusion under Order 4-2001: Wages, Hours, And Working Condition In Professional, Technical, Clerical Mechanical and Similar Occupations (Acrobat or text). The old version of this order made it possible for many environmental educators to be exempt (meaning salaried) from the minimum wage order. However, the new language that defines exemptions now excludes most environmental educators from the exemption because their positions do not meet the criteria for executive, administrative or professional exemption. There was an overall pattern of tightening exemptions and eliminating many jobs from exemption, across the employment spectrum and not just in education. Teachers are still exempted because they are licensed by the state. The second significant change is that for exempted (salaried) positions, the employee must make at least twice the minimum wage per month. This calculates out to $2168 per month. Many environmental educators do not make this much per month, and therefore can not be exempt even if they otherwise meet the criteria for exemption.
For hourly employees, the amounts that can be deducted for lodging and meals are set by law in the minimum wage order. These amounts were increased somewhat.
To summarize:
These changes in wage law will have a significant impact on some environmental education programs. As the nature of these changes become evident, more information will be provided here.
