§ 674. Regulations. 1. The commissioner may promulgate such regulations as he deems appropriate to carry out the purposes of this article and to safeguard minimum wage standards. Such regulations may include, but are not limited to, the defining of the circumstances or conditions for the acceptance of non-hourly rates and piece rates as equivalent to the minimum hourly rates established by this article. Such regulations also may include, but are not limited to, waiting time and call-in pay rates; wage provisions governing guaranteed earnings during specified periods of work; allowances for meals, lodging, and other items, services and facilities when furnished by the employer; or by physical or mental deficiency or injury, under special certificates issued by the commissioner, at such wages lower than the minimum wage established by this article and for such period as shall be prescribed in such regulations.

2. Such regulations may vary with localities if in the judgment of the commissioner conditions make such variation appropriate.

3. Such regulations shall be promulgated by the commissioner after a public hearing held after due notice.

A notice of the public hearing and a notice of the promulgation of any such regulation shall be published in the state bulletin. The notice of the promulgation of any such regulation shall be published at least twenty days before the effective date of the regulation.