Yesterday, the Georgia Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 55 that would prevent companies from paying employees with disabilities a subminimum wage. It will also give companies a timeline to follow for when the practice must come to an end. If passed, it will become active on July 1, 2025 and its deadline for companies to comply is set for July 1, 2027.
SB 55, also known as the Dignity and Pay Act, passed the Senate by a vote of 51-3 and is set to enter the House for another vote. The bill seeks to repeal several provisions in the Official Code of Georgia such as the exemptions that some companies receive that allow them to pay less than minimum wage.
SB 55 also takes aim at certificates granted by the U.S. Department of Labor that allows for companies to pay less than minimum wage. From the bill, “No employer shall utilize a certificate issued by the United States Department of Labor pursuant to 29 U.S.C. Section 214(c) to pay individuals with disabilities who are employed by such employer less than the minimum wage required to be paid by employers to employees under federal law.”
The bill’s sponsor, Senator Billy Hickman (R), applauded the passage and explained in a recent press release as to why this bill is so important. He stated, “With one of the strongest economies in the country, ensuring that all Georgians receive at least minimum wage is common sense and respectful of the work these employees do.”
He elaborated in his statement about the scale of this practice and how it negatively affects the Georgian workforce. He said, “Currently, Georgians are receiving less than $1 an hour for their work. … The practice of subminimum payment just limits the potential of disabled Georgians and segregates them from the competitive workforce.”
The bill passed with bipartisan support and is expected to pass the House with similar results. Should the bill pass, Georgia would join 13 other states who have phased out this practice.
