As of today, eleven disability rights and civil rights organizations have issued letters of support for the legislation Senator James Skoufis and I are carrying to eliminate the subminimum wage for workers with disabilities (A1006B/S28C). If enacted, New York would become the 19th state to guarantee that all workers, regardless of ability, receive fair and equal pay. The legislation has already secured 43 bipartisan cosponsors in the Assembly and 13 in the Senate, a strong signal of the growing consensus that this outdated policy must end.

The federal subminimum wage was created under the 14(c) program in 1938, at a time when meaningful employment for individuals with disabilities was almost nonexistent. While the original intention may have been well-meaning, the program has since trapped many people with disabilities in jobs that undervalue their work and limit their potential.

It is long past time for New York to move forward. States like Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington have already acknowledged that workers with disabilities deserve at least the minimum wage. In fact, a 2024 study analyzing the impact of abolishing the subminimum wage in New Hampshire and Maryland showed a statistically significant increase in both labor force participation and employment among individuals with disabilities.

I am proud that our legislation has gained the support of a broad and diverse coalition of organizations including:

• Living Resources
• Legal Action Center
• Center for Disability Rights
• Center for Independence of the Disabled NY (CIDNY)
• New York Association on Independent Living (NYAIL)
• Our Ability
• Southern Tier Independence Center
• John’s Crazy Socks [a business that hires people with disabilities]
• Alliance for Rights and Recovery
• STRIDE Adaptive Sports
• United Spinal Association

Their letters of support demonstrate that ending the subminimum wage is not only the morally right thing to do, but also a commonsense policy supported across industries and political lines.

While I am disappointed that this legislation did not pass before the close of this session, I am encouraged by the momentum we have built. Senator Skoufis and I will continue working in partnership with our legislative colleagues and advocacy organizations to ensure this bill passes next session.

We cannot claim to be a leader in disability and employment rights while continuing to allow workers with disabilities to be paid less than their peers. I thank the organizations that have stood with us, my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have signed on as cosponsors, and Senator Skoufis for his steadfast leadership on this issue.