What’s Next? The South Carolina Senate passed the subminimum wage bill to the House.

Subminimum wage has been affecting people with disabilities for over 80 years, by allowing agencies with a certificate to pay certain individuals less than $7.25 per hour. Read our blog about subminimum wage to learn more. 

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The subminimum wage bill was passed in the South Carolina Senate and — as of April 13, 2021 — is being considered by the House. This unanimous vote by SC’s Senate is another step in the right direction to end subminimum wage in South Carolina. Listen to Senator Penry Gustafson’s thoughts on subminimum wage and learn why she supports the bill.

Now that the bill has been introduced to the House, your representatives will vote on whether or not to make it a law. If the subminimum wage bill becomes a law, it will give agencies three years to phase out the contracts that allow them to pay subminimum wage. A positive step forward, this three-year transition plan will provide support for both providers and participants and is grounded in informed choice and equal rights.

Statistics show that over 2,000 individuals with disabilities are in SC in work settings where they may earn less than $1 per hour. Hire Me SC works to change the culture of disability in SC, and create a landscape in which employment of every individual — disability or not — is the norm rather than the exception, and fair wages are afforded to everyone.  

Although there are significant efforts being made to end subminimum wage occurring on a national level, Able SC has been working to end discrimination for people with disabilities for decades. Now that the vote is in the hands of the House and your state representatives, you need to take action. You can submit a short form online to get involved and directly connect with your state representatives to tell them to co-sponsor and vote YES at https://www.able-sc.org/take-action/.