Eliminate Sub-minimum Wage Employment

The bill phases out sub-minimum wage employment for employers that hold a special certificate from the United States department of labor that authorizes employers to pay employees whose earning capacity is impaired by age, physical or mental deficiency, or injury less than the minimum wage. The bill requires each employer that holds a special certificate to submit a transition plan to the Colorado department of labor and employment detailing how the employer plans to phase out sub-minimum wage employment.

The bill requires the employment first advisory partnership in the department of labor and employment to develop actionable recommendations to address structural and fiscal barriers to phase out sub-minimum wage employment and successfully implement competitive integrated employment and report the recommendations to the general assembly.

The bill requires the department of health care policy and financing to grant money to private employers, not to exceed $25,000 per employer, to provide assistance in developing and implementing a transition plan to phase out sub-minimum wage employment. The bill requires the department of health care policy and financing to add employment-related services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)