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New Laws for 2022: SB 639 (California)

 

Late last month, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 639 into law which will prohibit disabled workers in the state from being paid less than the minimum wage rate.

Prior to the enactment of SB 639, California has been one of several states that allows employers to pay disabled workers a pay rate less than the hourly minimum wage rate.  As a result, some disabled workers could legally be paid as little as $2/hour (which many were.)

However, SB 639 outlaws that practice and prohibits new disabled workers from being paid less than the hourly minimum wage rate beginning January 1, 2022.  For current disabled employees making less than the hourly minimum wage rate, however, employers have until January 1, 2025 to ensure compliance.  Although it is disappointing it will take at least another three years for current disabled workers to be guaranteed the hourly minimum wage rate in the state, I suppose this legislation is a (slow) step in the right direction.


For additional information:  https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB639

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