Elimination Of Subminimum Wage Employment

The bill phases out subminimum wage employment for employers that hold a special certificate from the United States department of labor that authorizes the employers to pay less than the minimum wage to employees whose earning capacity is impaired by age, physical or mental disability, or injury. 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 subminimum wage employment.

The bill requires the employment first advisory partnership in the Colorado department of labor and employment (partnership) to:

• Develop actionable recommendations to address structural and fiscal barriers to phasing out subminimum wage employment and successfully implementing competitive integrated employment; and
• Report the recommendations to the general assembly.

The bill continues operation of the partnership, which is scheduled to repeal on July 1, 2021, indefinitely.

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.)