Bill to Eliminate Subminimum Wage Passes the Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment

SB 639 passed the Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment today with a 4-0 vote and heads to the Assembly Human Services Committee next.

The California State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) is a proud co-sponsor of this measure which will stop California employers from paying workers with disabilities less than the California minimum wage.

Aaron Carruthers testifying in support of SB 639 at the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee.

Above: SCDD Executive Director Aaron Carruthers testifying in support

of SB 639 at today's committee hearing.

The bill's author, Senator María Durazo has worked with her colleagues in the legislature and partners to ensure that the elimination of the subminimum wage certificate program does not abruptly leave people with disabilities out of jobs and employers out of options. SB 639 appoints SCDD to develop and implement a plan to phaseout the subminimum wage certificate program by January 1, 2023. The bill prohibits an employer from paying an employee with a physical or mental disability less than the legal minimum wage beginning on January 1, 2025.

We wholeheartedly agree with Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez who spoke up during the committee hearing, "I value any work that any individual does, and I think that we have a minimum wage so that every individual can utilize that. This is a civil rights issue that has been neglected for far too long.”

More information about the bill and disability employment in California can be found at scdd.ca.gov/sb639.

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