A bill approved Thursday evening in the Illinois House of Representatives aims to eliminate the state’s subminimum wage for workers who have disabilities.
The Dignity in Pay Act (HB793) was approved on a vote of 78-30 with 3 members voting present.
The bill would require employers to pay people with disabilities the full state minimum wage, when it takes full effect on January 1, 2030.
Opponents have expressed concern that the bill would force organizations employing and providing services to people with disabilities to close. To help assuage that fear, the bill now includes a $2 million fund for the Illinois Department of Human Services to give out grants to organizations employing people with disabilities to help ease the transition.
House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) told her colleagues if you vote for the bill you have to be held accountable…and if you are voting no, hold those who vote for it accountable. She also said that if “we get this wrong” the aging population in these facilities will be hurt.
The legislation also amends the Employment and Economic Opportunity for Persons with Disabilities Task Force Act.
In provisions requiring the Employment and Economic Opportunity for Persons with Disabilities Task Force to create a multi-year plan to eliminate Section 14(c) certificates, requires the Task Force to create the multi-year plan with the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities and an academic partner with relevant subject matter expertise.
Provides that the multi-year plan shall help the State to successfully eliminate the use of Section 14(c) certificates on December 31, 2029 (rather than July 1, 2027). Sets forth certain considerations the Task Force must make when developing the multi-year plan; data and analysis to be included in the multi-year plan; and other matters.
