A bill aimed at raising the minimum wage in Kentucky has cleared a House committee.
The measure is a top priority of House Speaker Greg Stumbo, who says the current minimum wage doesn't provide a living wage. The Prestonsburg Democrat says full-time employees working for the minimum wage make less than the average cost of a used car in the U.S.
The bill was approved by the House Labor and Industry Committee on Thursday.
Under the bill, the state's minimum wage would gradually increase from the current $7.25 to $10.10 an hour on July 1, 2016. There would be a 95-cent increase this July and another 95-cent boost in July 2015.
Stumbo says Kentucky's minimum wage hasn't been raised since 2009.
