Brooks-LaSure, whose agency oversees the ACA marketplaces in addition to Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, said she is not surprised at the robust takeup of ACA insurance since President Joe Biden reopened enrollment in January. The administration announced last month that more than 1 million people had signed up already.

The governor’s office released the following statement: "This is an important agreement which represents my administration’s commitment to respecting the collective bargaining and negotiation process, while also ensuring those in the care of these homes are receiving the services they need. This agreement is a positive step forward for the workers as they will receive pay increases and more support. I thank SEIU and the industry leaders for working collaboratively with our administration to reach this agreement.”

Citing low wages, poor benefits and inadequate working conditions, the union warned in early May that it was planning to strike against six nonprofit agencies that collectively operate more than 200 group home sites statewide.

Connecticut relies on the private, nonprofit sector to deliver the bulk of state-sponsored social services. The industry has been urging governors and legislators for years to reverse more than a decade of under-funding.

Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act authorizes employers, after receiving a certificate from the Wage and Hour Division, to pay special minimum wages -- wages less than the Federal minimum wage -- to workers who have disabilities that impair their productivity for the work being performed, according to the U.S. Department of Labor website.

Kight noted some people have referred to their programs as "modern day slavery," and Cotton told her, "That's obviously wrong and an incendiary claim, but it's not surprising what you say."

Stephanie Price, a client of the Abilities Unlimited in Van Buren, stood up and told Cotton, "For us, work is a safe place. It's a place we choose to go to. It's not forced upon us. Could we get another job in the community? Probably. But it wouldn't be safe. It wouldn't be what we chose.

"No one put a gun to our head and made us work here. We chose it. Because we love it and it makes us excel at what we love. Makes us be more outspoken and want to do more things. So we have a voice and have a chance to be anybody else."

The 14-C program "allows you to have individualized plans," Cotton said. "If they want to do away with 14-C it will be over my strong opposition. So far, we've succeeded."

Disabilities Act and a 2012 Department of Justice settlement that ordered the state of Virginia to close down four of its five institutions for the disabled.

Additionally, for organizations to be eligible for Medicaid reimbursements, Milling said the government has established rules that say people with disabilities should receive services in their own homes or in integrated settings rather than in institutions or other isolated settings.

“Our concern is that any time a service or program isolates people, that it is not inclusive,” Milling said. “Services should be provided to someone as they would for someone without a disability.”

Slated to be built on 75 acres near Princess Anne and Sandbridge roads, Vanguard Landing would be a $40 million residential community for 185 people — 18 and older — with intellectual disabilities.

OCCK, Inc. said it is increasing its minimum wage to $15 for direct support professionals and drivers immediately. The organization said this wage increase will benefit more than 160 employees with OCCK and any new employees hired in these positions.

Additionally, OCCK said employees will continue to receive benefits such as comprehensive healthcare including medical, dental and vision coverage, company-paid life and disability insurance, enrollment in the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS), paid training and increased evening and weekend pay.