<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">This is long-awaited news! The upcoming administration will have six months to review this action and decide whether to uphold it.</p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 12px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">There’s no doubt in my mind that this is a direct result of the tireless efforts of the National Federation of the Blind. In the meantime, we must continue working on legislation in Ohio to ensure that this practice ends here even if the next administration decides not to uphold this new rule if it is finally adopted.</p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 12px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“<span style="color: rgb(19, 71, 137); font-size: 24px; font-family: Times;">U.S. considers ending subminimum wage for workers with disabilities</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 13.3px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">CBS News</p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 13.3px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">December 03, 2024</p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14.7px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14.7px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">(CBS NEWS) —<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-size: 15.3px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;"> </span>The Department of Labor is proposing to eliminate a controversial Depression-era program that permits employers to pay disabled workers below the federal minimum wage.</p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14.7px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14.7px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Federal law allows the agency to issue certificates allowing employers to pay certain workers less than the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour, assuming that their disabilities affect productivity. Initially intended to assist individuals with disabilities in finding employment, the law currently employs approximately 40,000 American workers who earn less than half the minimum wage or even less than a penny per hour, according to the Labor Department.</p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14.7px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14.7px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“Many earn less than half, some earn just pennies on the dollar,” Taryn Williams, the assistant secretary of labor for disability employment, stated during a press briefing on Tuesday.</p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14.7px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14.7px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The agency has <span style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(41, 106, 177);">proposed a rule</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 106, 177);"> </span>that would immediately cease the issuance of certificates permitting employers to pay below the federal minimum and initiate a three-year phase-out period for the hundreds of employers currently holding these permits.</p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14.7px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14.7px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The Labor Department’s proposal stems from a thorough review of the program, and the new rule will not take effect until the public comment period concludes on January 17, 2025, just days before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office. The new administration has the opportunity to review and respond to the comments, potentially issuing a final rule or withdrawing the proposal altogether.</p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14.7px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 15px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14.7px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Even if the proposal is not implemented, subminimum pay for individuals with disabilities could become a thing of the past. Over a dozen states and the District of Columbia have already banned the program. The Illinois legislature recently <span style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(41, 106, 177);">passed legislation</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 106, 177);"> </span>to eliminate subminimum wage for disabled workers by 2029. <span style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(41, 106, 177);">California,</span><span style="color: rgb(41, 106, 177);"> </span>Nevada, and Virginia are also phasing out the program.</p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14.7px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 15px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14.7px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The program, initiated under section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, was initially established to provide employment opportunities for injured military veterans. Currently, many disabled individuals work in sheltered workshops operated by certified employers that pay as low as 25 cents per hour.</p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14.7px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 14.7px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">As of November 1, government data revealed that over 37,000 workers in 37 states were receiving subminimum wages from 710 certificate holders. Additionally, another 35 employers had their certificate renewals pending.</p></body></html>