What's happening
This bill removes the exemption allowing employees with disabilities to be paid less than minimum wage in New York State.
Why it matters
Expanding equal pay protections. By removing the exemption for employees with disabilities, the bill ensures that all workers—regardless of disability—are entitled to at least the state minimum wage. This addresses longstanding concerns about wage discrimination and affirms the value of work performed by people with disabilities.
Potential impact on employment programs. Some organizations, particularly sheltered workshops and nonprofits, have historically used the subminimum wage exemption to employ people with disabilities. The bill may require these organizations to adjust their business models, which could affect the availability or nature of certain employment programs.
Alignment with disability rights advocacy. The change responds to national and state-level advocacy efforts emphasizing that people with disabilities should have equal access to competitive, integrated employment. It reflects a broader movement away from segregated or lower-wage work for people with disabilities.
Possible effects on workforce participation. While the bill aims to promote fairness, there are concerns that some employers may reduce positions or be less willing to hire individuals whose productivity is affected by a disability, potentially impacting employment rates within this population. The transition period and support measures will be key factors in determining these outcomes.
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Who cares
Headline styles
End Subminimum Wage Disability
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 39
History
- Referred to labor
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1115
- Print number 4018a
- Amend and recommit to labor
- Referred to labor
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Equal Minimum Wage for Disabled
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Phil Steck
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4018--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 25, 2019
Introduced by Sens. SKOUFIS, GOUNARDES, SALAZAR, STAVISKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Labor -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to the minimum wage for employees with disabilities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The opening paragraph of subdivision 5 of section 651 of the labor law, as amended by chapter 503 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
"Employee" includes any individual employed or permitted to work by an employer in any occupation, but shall not include any individual who is employed or permitted to work: (a) on a casual basis in service as a part time baby sitter in the home of the employer; (b) in labor on a farm; (c) in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity; (d) as an outside salesman; (e) as a driver engaged in operating a taxicab; (f) as a volunteer, learner or apprentice by a corporation, unincorporated association, community chest, fund or foundation organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable or educational purposes, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual; (g) as a member of a religious order, or as a duly ordained, commissioned or licensed minister, priest or rabbi, or as a sexton, or as a christian science reader; (h) in or for such a religious or charitable institution, which work is incidental to or in return for charitable aid conferred upon such individual and not under any express contract of hire; (i) in or for such a religious, educational or charitable institution if such individual is a student; (j) [in or for such a religious, educational or charitable institution if the earning capacity of such individual is impaired by age or by physical or mental deficiency or injury; (k)] in or for a
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04315-07-9
S. 4018--A 2
summer camp or conference of such a religious, educational or charitable institution for not more than three months annually; [(l)] (k) as a staff counselor in a children's camp; [(m)] (l) in or for a college or university fraternity, sorority, student association or faculty association, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual, and which is recognized by such college or university, if such individual is a student; [(n)] (m) by a federal, state or municipal government or political subdivision thereof; [(o)] (n) as a volunteer at a recreational or amusement event run by a business that operates such events, provided that no single such event lasts longer than eight consecutive days and no more than one such event concerning substantially the same subject matter occurs in any calendar year, where (1) any such volunteer shall be at least eighteen years of age, (2) a business seeking coverage under this paragraph shall notify every volunteer in writing, in language acceptable to the commissioner, that by volunteering his or her services, such volunteer is waiving his or her right to receive the minimum wage pursuant to this article, and (3) such notice shall be signed and dated by a representative of the business and the volunteer and kept on file by the business for thirtysix months; or [(p)] (o) in the delivery of newspapers or shopping news to the consumer by a person who is not performing commercial goods transportation services for a commercial goods transportation contractor within the meaning of article twenty-five-C of this chapter. The exclusions from the term "employee" contained in this subdivision shall be as defined by regulations of the commissioner.
§ 2. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 5 of section 655 of the labor law, as amended by chapter 747 of the laws of 1978, is amended to read as follows:
(c) The wage board may also recommend, to the extent necessary in order to prevent curtailment of opportunities for employment, regulations for (1) the employment of learners and apprentices, under special certificates issued by the commissioner, at such wages lower than the minimum wage established by this article and subject to such limitations as to time, number, proportion and length of service as shall be prescribed in such regulation, (2) [the employment of individuals whose earning capacity is affected or impaired by youth or age or by physical or mental deficiency or injury, under special certificates issued by the commissioner, at such wages lower than the minimum wage established by this article and for such period as shall be prescribed in such regulation, (3)] the establishment of a period not extending beyond seventeen consecutive weeks during which a resort hotel or camp may employ students under special certificates issued by the commissioner, at such wages lower than the minimum wage established by this article as shall be prescribed in such regulation, and [(4)] (3) the employment of residential employees in a non-profit making religious, charitable or educational organization or in a non-profit making college or university sorority or fraternity under special certificates issued by the commissioner at such weekly wage as shall be prescribed in such regulation.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the thirty-first of December next succeeding the date upon which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation by the department of labor necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the labor law, in relation to the minimum wage for employees with disabilities
Purpose
The purpose of the bill is to eliminate the subminimum wage for employ- ees based on their age or disability.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill would repeal the exclusion of individuals working in or for a religious, educational or charitable institution whose earn- ing capacity is impaired by age or by physical or mental deficiency or injury as "employees" for purposes of payment of the minimum wage.
Section 2 of the bill would repeal the ability of the Commissioner of Labor to promulgate regulations for the employment of individuals whose earning capacity is affected or impaired by youth or age or by physical or mental deficiency or injury at wages lower than the minimum wage.
Section 3 of the bill would establish the effective date.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE): This bill was amended to make clarifying changes and to eliminate the submin- imum wage for employees based on their age.
Justification
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 made it illegal for the first time for employers to discriminate against workers with disabili- ties. Although this was a significant win for the disability community there are still many instances of unequal access and treatment of Ameri- cans with disabilities. Currently, many disability providers employ people at "workshops" that pay far below the minimum wage. This bill seeks to follow the lead of Alaska, Maryland and New Hampshire that have prohibited this practice, as well as end the practice of paying less than the minimum wage to employees because of their age.
Legislative history
2018: A.11290 (Skouf is) - Referred to Labor
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the thirty-first of December next succeed- ing the date upon which it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.