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<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br><br>
CONTACT:<br>
</b>Chris Danielsen<br>
Director of Public Relations<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br>
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br>
<a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><br><br>
<div align="center"><b>National Federation of the Blind Applauds <br>
Passage of Bill Prohibiting Wage Discrimination<br><br>
<i>Urges Governor Hassan to Sign Bill Repealing Minimum-Wage Exemption
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for Employers of Workers with Disabilities<br><br>
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Concord, New Hampshire (April 15, 2015):</b>
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/">The National Federation of the Blind</a>
today applauded the passage of S.B. 47 by the New Hampshire House of
Representatives. The bill was unanimously passed by the New Hampshire
Senate on March 5. If Governor Hassan signs the bill, state law RSA
279:22, which previously allowed entities to pay people with disabilities
less than the minimum wage, will be repealed. New Hampshire will be the
first state to have a law that “prohibits employers from employing
individuals with disabilities at an hourly rate lower than the federal
minimum wage.”<br><br>
Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
said: “We are delighted that New Hampshire’s General Court has passed
S.B. 47, and we urge Governor Hassan to sign this landmark legislation as
soon as it reaches her desk. This legislation will make New Hampshire a
leader in rejecting the misconceptions and low expectations that
stigmatize workers with disabilities by prohibiting wage discrimination
against these workers.” <br><br>
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<b>About the National Federation of the Blind</b> <br><br>
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.<br><br>
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