I am reaching out to ask for your support of House Bill 793, also known as the Dignity in Pay Act. Individuals with disabilities deserve the right to earn fair wages for fair work. The state of Illinois however, still allows many individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) to be paid wages below the minimum wage. We should be doing all we can to foster independence for the I/DD community, and working in the community is one of the best ways to accomplish this. Employment helps individuals with I/DD become active members of the community and teaches them essential life skills. I know many individuals with disabilities who have held the same job for years, and they deserve to work and be paid with dignity. The Dignity in Pay Act is the result of extensive education and negotiation to ensure that a smooth transition occurs when we end the sub-minimum wage employment for individuals with I/DD. I know that the change will not happen overnight, but I urge you to support this legislation as it contains several measures to ensure the transition will be safe, responsible, and equitable to the I/DD community. The Dignity in Pay Act would empower the established Employment and Economic Opportunity for Persons with Disabilities (EEOPD) Task Force to research and develop a multi-year phase out plan by 2029 and continue to report on the progress of the phase out to the Illinois General Assembly and Governor throughout its implementation. In addition to state and provider oversight to ensure a responsible transition, the legislation would also establish a grant fund to assist providers in the transition to minimum wage, increase supported employment rates to help individuals find and retain employment, and increase CILA residents’ personal needs allowance to $100 per month allowing them to save more of their federal supplemental security income (SSI). This legislation ensures that this change in the system will not be done in haste. This will be a process, but it must be done. We cannot pay individuals with disabilities less than any other worker. Differences in intellectual ability should not affect the rights of any citizen, and it should not affect the wages they earn either. I urge you to join your counterparts in the 13 states who have already eliminated sub-minimum wage, your colleagues in the Illinois House of Representatives who passed this crucial legislation in May, and several of your colleagues in the Senate who have co-sponsored the Dignity in Pay Act and support House Bill 793. I look forward to hearing your decision on this matter.

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are entitled to the same rights as any American citizen, and they should be paid in the same manner, equally! In Illinois however, many individuals with disabilities are paid below the minimum wage in certain programs. We should end this out of date practice and ensure that individuals with I/DD are paid fair wages for fair work. House Bill 793, referred to as the Dignity in Pay Act, would eliminate sub-minimum wage in Illinois, but ensure that these programs are transitioned towards minimum wage employment in a responsible manner. The existing Employment and Economic Opportunity for Persons with Disabilities (EEOPD) Task force would be empowered to research and develop a transition plan by 2029, while monitoring the implementation of the plan throughout the transition. Beyond ensuring oversight and responsible transition, a grant fund would be established to assist providers transition their sub0minimum wage programs to minimum wage employment, increase supported employment rates to expand crucial resources helping individuals find and retain employment, and increase the personal needs allowance of all CILA residents to $100 per month ensuring individuals will be able to keep more of their Supplemental Security Income (SSI). To me, it is plain and simple. Individuals with disabilities who work should be entitled to the minimum wage that exists for all employees. However, I recognize that although the principle may be clear, the path to economic justice is complex. I believe that this legislation has taken painstaking efforts to ensure a responsible and equitable transition away from sub-minimum wage, and as my Senator, I ask for your support of House Bill 793. Your colleagues and counterparts in 13 other states have already eliminated outdated sub-minimum wage employment, and the Illinois House passed this legislation only a few months ago. I ask that you take a stand for equal rights and equal pay. Please support the Dignity in Pay Act. I look forward to hearing your decision.

As you return to Springfield for the 2024 Veto Session, I wanted to make you aware of a crucial piece of legislation in the Illinois Senate that I urge you to support and pass. House Bill 793, referred to as the Dignity in Pay Act, would eliminate the outdated 14 c sub-minimum wage programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), ensuring economic justice for individuals with I/DD. This legislation has been thoroughly researched and negotiated, and as my Senator, I ask you to so support and pass this legislation. I do recognize that the elimination of sub-minimum wage employment for individuals with I/DD will be complex, but this legislation ensures it will be done in a responsible manner ensuring equitable resources for individuals with I/DD. The existing Employment and Economic Opportunity for Persons with Disabilities (EEOPD) task force will be tasked with researching and developing a transition plan for sub-minimum wage programs, and throughout implementation the EEOPD will continue to monitor and report on progress to the Illinois General Assembly and Governor. In addition to this oversight, the bill would establish a transition grant fund to assist providers throughout the transition to minimum wage, increase the personal needs allowance for individuals with I/DD to $100 per month, and increase funding for supported employment programs. In short, the Dignity in Pay Act will ensure that Individuals with I/DD who are actively employed, or seeking employment, will earn fair wages for fair work, and has extensive guardrails in place to protect their rights and well-being. I implore you to support House Bill 793 and vote for its passage this veto session. Individuals with I/DD deserve to be paid fairly and the 14 c sub-minimum wage model is outdated. This is why 13 states have already eliminated sub-minimum wage employment and why your colleagues in the Illinois House voted to pass the Dignity in Pay Act only a few months ago. I look forward to hearing your decision on Dignity in Pay.