Minimum wage increase passes first hurdle in state Capitol

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KGO) -- Legislation that would raise California's minimum wage passed its first hurdle at the state Capitol on Wednesday.

The bill was approved by the State Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee.

The bill would raise the minimum wage in three steps.

It would go up to $11 an hour in 2015, then go up another dollar an hour in both 2016 and 2017.

In 2018, the minimum wage would then be adjusted to the rate of inflation.