Last week, SB 639 passed the Senate with a 31-3 bipartisan vote and heads to the Assembly. This is the first time in the history of the California legislature that a subminimum wage-related piece of legislation has moved forward. SB 639 is a senate bill authored by Senator María Durazo and co-authored by Senator Sydney Kamlager. The California State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) and Disability Rights California are the co-sponsors. This bill would stop California employers from paying workers with disabilities less than the California minimum wage.

Over 12,000 Californians with disabilities work for less than minimum wage in segregated settings. SB 639 transitions workers with disabilities from segregated settings to integrated settings. It also allows workers with disabilities to earn a real wage and work alongside their colleagues without disabilities.

The Senate also approved recent amendments to the bill suggested by the Senate Appropriations Committee to put SCDD in a leadership position if SB 639 becomes law later this year. These amendments name SCDD the lead entity to develop a phaseout plan by January 2023.

We understand some of you have questions about what is in the bill and how it will impact Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We have collected concerns and questions and created this document to provide more information. Click here to read "Subminimum Wage Myths... BUSTED!"