Dignity in Pay Act House Bill 793 ─ FACTS
The Dignity in Pay Act is a proposed law that will help people with disabilities get paid at least minimum wage for their work. In five years, Illinois will stop allowing people with disabilities to be paid less than minimum wage. This change is being led by the Illinois Department of Human Services, the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities, and the Illinois Department of Labor. The law was created after years of talking with disability groups, service providers, and other advocates who want fair pay for everyone.
HB 793 passed the House in 2024 with bipartisan support and is heading to the Senate in Illinois’ fall Veto Session.
Paying subminimum wage is an outdated practice that started in 1938. It sends
a harmful message—that people with disabilities are less valuable and don’t
deserve equal pay for their work. HB 793 doesn’t change where people with disabilities work. It changes how
much they are paid for their work. This means that people can keep working at
the same place, but with HB 793, they must be paid at least minimum wage or
more.
14(c) Providers will have access to grant funds that the Department of Human Services is making available to help them transform their business model. A lot of resources and support will be available to them so that they are having funding to support them during the transformation. In Illinois, there is a Task Force called the Employment & Economic Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (EEOPD).
This Task Force has a group called the Dignity in Pay Workgroup. This group has been meeting since August 2024 and has over 40 members, including: people with disabilities, 14(c) providers, leaders from state agencies, advocacy organizations, and experts
from Illinois and across the country. Together, the workgroup is creating a plan to transform Illinois away from 14(c) subminimum wage. This plan will be given to you (legislators) and will include recommendations to help Illinois transform. The Department of Human Services has set rates to pay 14(c) Providers for helping people with disabilities in small group supported employment. With the new law, HB 793, these rates will increase to encourage more small group job supported employment for people with disabilities.
IL HB793 Dignity with Pay Gov Pritzker Support Letter-5-13-2024
ICDD Witness Slip Guidance
Consider completing a Witness Slip for the Executive Committee and Dignity in Pay HB 793. A witness slip is a form that allows individuals or organizations to share their position on a bill with the Illinois State House or Senate before a committee hearing. Witness slips are a key part of the legislative process because they help inform legislators about the public’s opinion on a bill.
Learn more about Witness Slips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE04lMwKoR8