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* WGEM…
Lawmakers joined leaders from organizations serving people with developmental disabilities at the Illinois State Capitol Wednesday to rally against eliminating the subminimum wage for people with disabilities.
Known as the Dignity in Pay Act, HB 793 would require people with disabilities less than the minimum wage paid to everyone else beginning in 2027.
People who oppose the legislation said it will force organizations providing services and jobs to people with disabilities to lay them off or potentially close.
“Without a well-constructed, well-developed plan, the people who HB 793 is intended to benefit would likely experience unnecessary hardships,” said Doug McDonald, the CEO of Sparc, a Springfield-based organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, said under federal law there’s a waiver for minimum wage because the productivity of someone with certain disabilities isn’t the same as someone who has full-cognitive abilities.
“It’s neat to see how happy these people are to get their paycheck. They made their contribution to society at the level they are able to contribute. Who wouldn’t in a perfect world want to do this [mandate at least minimum wage for disabled adults]? But the reality is, you’re going to put these people out of work,” said Rose. […]
“They are calling it the Dignity in Pay Act, and I am here to counter that narrative,” [state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville] said in October. “The bill is not agreed, as Charlie [Meier] pointed out when 33 out of 35 providers are not in agreement, that is not agreed.” […]
“It feels like they’re saying there’s only two options: ‘Sub-minimum wage or no job.’ It’s not true. The research has shown, nationwide, that we can phase this out. I was talking with a small town mayor in Alaska, which has phased it out. He was the lead sponsor on this bill and they found a lot of success with customized employment in their small town,” said [Nicholas Boyle, an economic justice policy analyst with Access Living]. “Other places can do it, I don’t see why Illinois can’t.”
* Sen. Michael Hastings…
Senate Bill 3538 would require any self-insured county or municipality that provides health insurance coverage to first responders to include mental health counseling coverage without imposing any cost-sharing requirements on patients.
“First Responders” are classified as any police, corrections officers, deputy sheriffs, firefighters, or emergency medical services personnel that are employed by local government entities, which would include counties and townships. […]
Senate Bill 3538 passed the Senate Local Government Committee on Wednesday and now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
* SJ-R…
Through Senate Bill 2705, the sale and distribution of products such as carpets, cookware, food packaging and more containing intentionally added PFAS would no longer be allowed starting next year. By 2032, all products with PFAS, unless it is proven it cannot be made without it, would be banned.
The Illinois Department of Agriculture would also have to approve bans of pesticide, fertilizer, agricultural liming material, plant amendment, or soil containing them.
State Sen. Laura Fine, D-Glenview, is leading the bill currently awaiting committee assignment. The intent behind the bill, she said is not to burden manufacturers but instead to produce environmentally-friendly products that are more cost-effective. […]
Lawmakers are also weighing legislation that would require manufacturers of intentionally added PFAS to register their products with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Opponents, such as the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, have said identifying these products would be challenging and implementation would be costly.
* Sen. Robert Peters…
State Senator Robert Peters advanced legislation Wednesday to ban employers from requiring workers to attend meetings regarding political or religious matters. […]
Senate Bill 3649 will prohibit Illinois employers from requiring employees to attend employer-sponsored meetings where the primary purpose is to communicate the employer’s opinions on religious or political matters. Further, the legislation safeguards employees from adverse actions for refusing such employer-sponsored meetings.
The National Labor Relations Board’s general counsel issued a memorandum outlining a plan to advocate for mandatory meetings concerning union representation, political opinions and religious matters unlawful under federal labor law. There has been no action following the memorandum, which was issued in 2022. […]
Senate Bill 3649 passed the Senate Labor Committee and now awaits further consideration in the Senate.
* WAND…
Illinois lawmakers could pass a plan this spring to ensure school vendors and learning partners follow the state’s new comprehensive literacy plan.
House Democrats want vendors responsible for English language arts improvement plans to abide by the historic Literacy and Justice For All Act.
The Illinois State Board of Education introduced the framework for the literacy plan in January. However, this bill could ensure schools are not limited by their vendors. […]
The proposal passed out of the House Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies Committee on a 11-2 vote. House Bill 4902 now heads to the House floor for further consideration.
* Sen. Dave Koehler…
enate Bill 3077 would create the Local Food Infrastructure Grant Act. This measure would require the Illinois Department of Agriculture to amplify local food processing, collection and distribution within the state through grants. Eligible applicants would include farms, co-ops, process facilities, food businesses and hubs with fewer than 50 employees, as well as Illinois nonprofit organizations and local governments.
Koehler’s bill creates a two-tiered grant system for both individual and collaborative projects. Individual projects may receive grants between $1,000 and $75,000, where collaborative projects may be awarded $1,000 up to $250,000. These grants may be used toward production, grading and packaging equipment, as well as refrigerated trucks, milling equipment, local fish processing and milk processing.
According to the Illinois Stewardship Alliance, a 10% shift in the average grocery budget toward local food purchasing could generate billions in economic growth for the state. By incentivizing the expansion and collaboration of local food providers, Senate Bill 3077 will reinforce Illinois’ food industry, grow local economies and provide access to locally sourced food to residents across the state. […]
Senate Bill 3077 passed the Senate Agriculture Committee on Thursday and now moves to the full Senate for further consideration.
* Sen. Seth Lewis…
With 25 students from the Prairie School of DuPage in the committee room with him to help lobby for his bill, State Senator Seth Lewis (R-Bartlett) received unanimous recommended approval from the Senate’s State Government Committee on Wednesday for legislation that designates the Calvatia Gigantea as the official state mushroom.
As the bill was presented, committee members learned that 174 witness slips in favor of the bill had been properly filed by students, parents, and others in support of Senate Bill 3514.
“I visited with these students at their school in Wheaton several weeks ago, and they told me they wanted Illinois to adopt a new symbol,” said Lewis. “They engaged in a great deal of research, and asked me to file a bill to make the Calvatia Gigantea, or “Gigantic Puffball” the official state mushroom. I filed Senate Bill 3514 on their behalf on February 9.”
Upper Elementary Teacher Erin Hemmer testified before the committee and explained that students compiled research and held a “primary” election that brought the list of mushroom choices down to two, and then the students made campaign signs for their favored choice prior to a “general” election to determine the winner. “They entered this process with wonder and passion,” said Hemmer. “I am very proud of them.”
Upper Elementary student Charlotte DiGangi also testified on the bill and said the idea for a state mushroom came from a question she asked during a classroom discussion on state symbols. “We were talking about all of the different state symbols and I asked if there was a state mushroom,” said DiGangi. “I said we should have a state mushroom and now here we are.”
The Prairie School of DuPage is a private, environmentally-focused school that offers K-8 students a progressive, hands-on education.
“This was a priceless lesson in the value of civic engagement and sends a message to these students that even at a young age their voice can be heard and that they can influence change,” added Lewis. “It was an honor to partner with them on this legislation, and look forward to their continued assistance as we bring this bill across the finish line.”
posted by Isabel Miller
Thursday, Mar 7, 24 @ 9:52 am
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The morel mushroom lobby must be furious
Comment by fs Thursday, Mar 7, 24 @ 10:07 am
Very happy to see that the legislature is moving forward to end the decades-long nightmare of not having an official state mushroom…
All kidding aside, good for those kids for taking the steps to participate in government.
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Thursday, Mar 7, 24 @ 10:15 am
“Without a well-constructed, well-developed plan, the people who HB 793 is intended to benefit would likely experience unnecessary hardships,” said Doug McDonald, the CEO of Sparc, a Springfield-based organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
This is one I have experience with - some jobs fit perfectly for those with developmental disabilities like baging groceries or the like - with JB’s $15 minimim wage laws and with having to take steps to avoid salary comession. Now it does not make sense to hire folk that can not handle higher level skills to only do the most basic tasks at $15. We have had to stop hiring developmental disabled folks for these tasks - we have granfathered in a few - but the tasks that were prevsioly done will be picked up by others.I have had conversations with the workforce development staff from the local high school and they are hearing this from many employers.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Thursday, Mar 7, 24 @ 10:30 am
Re: Sen. Robert Peters’ SB 3649
I agree wholeheartedly with this initiative. I also have my doubts that places like Hobby Lobby would agree, and would likely challenge such a ban.
And given our current U.S. Supreme Court, I would think this could get very messy if taken up and passed.
But I support workers’ rights not to have to attend and participate in company meetings that advocate legal and religious policies.
Comment by H-W Thursday, Mar 7, 24 @ 10:45 am
Re: Sen. Chapin Rose’s comments in Center Square
=== under federal law there’s a waiver for minimum wage because the productivity of someone with certain disabilities isn’t the same as someone who has full-cognitive abilities. ===
And yet, they eat the same, and need the same housing requirements, and are equally human regardless of productivity differences.
What an inhuman argument for not paying the least among us a minimum wage. Sen. Rose should be ashamed. Employers knowingly hire the disabled. Employers who do this only to avoid paying minimum wage to workers are rare (and immoral).
Perhaps Mr. Rose would prefer increasing taxes so as to better care for the disabled. We either raise wages, or raise taxes, or abandon our moral obligations to the disabled.
Shame.
Comment by H-W Thursday, Mar 7, 24 @ 10:56 am
Chapin Rose is not sharp enough to be embarrassed by his comments. “Those people” are capable of more than he is apparently. There is no way it is ok to pigeon hole the developmentally disabled to “bagging groceries” or other menial tasks. My experience tells me that we should allow everyone an opportunity to excel. I work with workforce development organizations all the time and never get negative feedback from them or employers. The prejudice is tiresome.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Mar 7, 24 @ 11:10 am
@Donnie Elgin
That is correct. In addition, competitive employment can cause unintended consequences to their disability-related benefits. Then, if the job doesn’t work out, it’s a nightmare trying to get these benefits reinstated. There are safety nets but they don’t always work properly in real situations.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Mar 7, 24 @ 11:21 am
== The intent behind the bill, she said is not to burden manufacturers but instead to produce environmentally-friendly products that are more cost-effective. ==
Maybe instead of a ban, she could try tax incentives / breaks on the one hand or additional fees / taxes on the other hand … and let the manufacturers and the market sort it out.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Mar 7, 24 @ 12:57 pm
= the productivity of someone with certain disabilities isn’t the same as someone who has full-cognitive abilities. =
First of all, there are different levels of cognitive abilities. Second, I’ve seen plenty of people with “full-cognitive abilities” whose productivity was pretty much non-existent.
How about we stop putting the developmentally disabled in one box, and look at them as individuals, each with their own skill set and ability level?
Comment by JoanP Thursday, Mar 7, 24 @ 1:11 pm
==Now it does not make sense to hire folk==
That says a lot about you are your kind and it isn’t good.
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Mar 7, 24 @ 1:16 pm
==Maybe instead of a ban, she could try tax incentives / breaks on the one hand or additional fees / taxes on the other hand … and let the manufacturers and the market sort it out.==
We’ve been doing that for years and the results are pretty clear - contaminated water, air, & soil. In many cases, it is difficult, if not impossible to assign responsibility and clean up the mess. We have to accept that some of the chemicals we use have such negative consequences that a ban is the most appropriate approach. If a company cannot make a profit without poisoning the environment, maybe they need to close up shop.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Mar 7, 24 @ 4:50 pm
== How about we stop putting the developmentally disabled in one box ==
Thank you @JoanP for this critical nuance. If the elimination of subminimum wage is an important public policy, a different way to solve the issue is for the state to fund it rather than have people with disabilities pay for it with their jobs. It is true that just eliminating subminimum wage will decrease the financial viability of some social enterprises that employ people with more significant developmental disabilities. Therefore, state can calculate the fiscal impact and fund the variance. Of course, this wouldn’t be popular with everyone, either, but it does solve the core issue on both sides.
Comment by Keep it Real Thursday, Mar 7, 24 @ 5:31 pm