(a)(1)  Beginning July 1, 1997, every employer shall pay each of his or her employees wages at the rate of not less than four dollars and seventy-five cents ($4.75) per hour except as otherwise provided in this chapter. 

(2)  Beginning October 1, 1997, every employer shall pay each of his or her employees wages at the rate of not less than five dollars and fifteen cents ($5.15) per hour except as otherwise provided in this chapter. 

(b)  With respect to any full-time student attending any accredited institution of education within the State of Arkansas and who is employed to work an amount not to exceed twenty (20) hours during weeks that school is in session or forty (40) hours during weeks when school is not in session, the rate of wage shall be equal to but not less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the minimum wage provided for in this section. 

History. Acts 1968 (1st Ex. Sess.), No. 25, § 3; 1973, No. 13, § 1; 1975, No. 316, § 1; 1975 (Extended Sess., 1976), No. 1156, § 1; 1977, No. 345, §§ 2, 3; 1979, No. 996, § 3; 1981, No. 610, § 1; 1981, No. 667, § 1; 1983, No. 453, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, § 81-321; Acts 1987, No. 974, § 1; reen. Acts 1987, No. 987, § 1; Acts 1989, No. 360, § 2; 1989, No. 845, § 1; 1991, No. 544, § 1; 1993, No. 331, § 1; 1993, No. 568, § 1; 1997, No. 201, § 1.