Illinois Dignity in Pay Act: House preparing for vote to eliminate sub-minimum wages

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois workers with developmental and intellectual disabilities have been paid much less than the minimum wage since 1938, but state lawmakers could pass a plan to phase out the sub-minimum wage this month.

Rep. Theresa Mah (D-Chicago) and many other lawmakers believe it is wrong that some people are paid as low as 50 cents per hour and make only $100 per month.

A new amendment to House Bill 793 would create a special grant fund of $2 million to help community agencies transition away from the sub-minimum wages. Mah told reporters in Springfield Thursday that the funding is already available in the Department of Human Services budget.

"This bill represents not months and weeks," said Josh Evans, Executive Director of the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities. "It represents years for us because we went to work as a membership organization, as a diverse group, to try to ask ourselves what is an environment that needs to exist so that we can phase out payment of sub-minimum wages for person with developmental disabilities so we can keep choice of services and so we can grow community-integrated employment."

The Dignity in Pay Act would eliminate the use of 14 C Certificates on July 1, 2029. Illinois would become the 18th state to eliminate sub-minimum wages if the plan is passed and signed into law.

Macon Resources in Decatur is one of the only businesses that pays every worker minimum wage or higher. Lawmakers and advocates stressed that every business should follow that standard because workers with developmental disabilities deserve dignity and respect.

"No Illinoisan should be treated as sub-human by only being allowed a sub-minimum wage," said Tyson Bedford, a member of the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities.

House Bill 793 includes a provision stating community group home residents should receive a personal allowance of at least $100 per month. The proposal also calls for the personal needs allowance to increase annually at the same rate as the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment taking effect at the start of each year.