COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – While federal law allows employers to pay some individuals with disabilities less than minimum wage, Ohio lawmakers are attempting to eliminate the practice in the state.

House Bill 225, sponsored by Reps. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) and Tom Young (R-Washington Twp.), seeks to phase out subminimum wages for employees with disabilities over a five-year period.

“This bipartisan legislation is about dignity,” Jarrells said at a hearing for the bill in May. “It’s about economic opportunity and it’s about making sure every Ohioan, regardless of ability, has the right to fair wages and the chance to contribute meaningfully to their communities.”

Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 permits employers to pay workers whose disabilities impact their pr

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