End of September marks final phase-out of 14c in Maryland
In 2016, the Individuals with Disabilities- Minimum Wage and Community Integration, Ken Capone Equal Employment Act (EEA) was passed. At the end of this month, the State of Maryland will have completed its 4 year phase-out of 14c, subminimum wage certificate usage outlined in the EEA.
A workgroup has provided updates on the phase-out through annual legislative reports that include data and resources. Members of the workgroup have included representatives from Maryland Department of Disabilities, Developmental Disabilities Administration, Department of Commerce, Maryland Department of Labor, Maryland State Department of Education, Maryland Works, Maryland Association of Community Services, The Arc Maryland, People On the Go and the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council.
Prior to Maryland's legislation, New Hampshire had banned 14c certificates through state legislation in the spring of 2015. Since Maryland's legislation, the following states have passed legislation banning use of subminimum wage: Alaska, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington. States with similar pending legislation include, Hawaii, Washington, Minnesota, Kentucky and Illinois.
Earlier this month, the US Commission on Civil Rights, an independent, bipartisan agency established by Congress in 1957, published a report titled: Subminimum Wages: Impacts on the Civil Rights of People with Disabilities. Key recommendations from the report include: "that Congress repeal Section 14(c) with a planned phase-out period. The phased repeal of 14(c) must not reflect a retreat in federal investments and support for employment success of persons with disabilities but rather a reconceptualization of the way in which the federal government can enhance the possibilities for success and growth for people with disabilities."
A final legislative report on Maryland's EEA will be available to stakeholders in October. |