NJ Assembly panel advances bill phasing in $15 minimum wage

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey lawmakers have advanced a bill to hike the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024.The Assembly Labor Committee approved the measure Thursday.Gov. Phil Murphy, Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin announced a deal on the wage last week. They're all Democrats.Thursday's hearing was the public's first chance to comment on the bill containing the deal.New Jersey would join California, Massachusetts and New York phasing in a $15 hourly wage if it's enacted.The proposal would raise today's rate from $8.85 to $10 by July 1, climbing by $1 annually until reaching $15 in 2024 for most, but not all workers.It's not an across-the-board hike. Farm workers' wage will climb to $12.50 over five years, for example.