Testimony on House Bill 225 — Richard Payne, National Federation of the Blind of Ohio

Summary

Testimony on House Bill 225, the Ohio Employment First and Greater Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Act, addressed to Chair Johnson and members of the House Commerce and Labor Committee and ending with the name of Richard Payne, President of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio. The testimony states that the bill seeks to phase out sub-minimum wage over five years and that employers holding a sub-minimum wage certificate must submit a transition plan within 15 months. It states that the bill expands the role of the Employment First Task Force and includes a nonrefundable 15% tax credit for purchases from certified nonprofits that employ people with disabilities in integrated settings.

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Chair Johnson, Vice Chair Lear, Ranking Member McNally, and members of the House
Commerce and Labor Committee.

Thank you for the opportunity to offer sponsor testimony on House Bill 225, the Ohio
Employment First and Greater Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities

Act,



This bipartisan legislation is about dignity. 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.

Currently, Ohio law allows certain employers to pay people with disabilities less than the
minimum wage. This system, rooted in Section 14(c) of the Fair

Labor Standards Act, a provision dating back to 1938, was created under the guise of
opportunity, but in practice, it has marginalized, excluded, and devalued

people for generations. House Bill 225 seeks to change that by phasing out sub-minimum
wage over five years and realigning our systems with modern values

and best practices.



we identified three core

principles that serve as the foundation of this bill:

1.

A clear and responsible phase-out of sub-minimum wages, paired with a comprehensive
shift to Employment First, meaning that community-based, integrated

employment becomes the preferred outcome for all Ohioans with disabilities.

2.

A deep focus on enhancing the quality of those employment outcomes, not just finding
jobs, but ensuring that people earn good wages, work meaningful hours,

and access a diverse range of job opportunities in line with their skills and aspirations.
3.

An unflinching rejection of the idea that habilitation or segregated facilities are acceptable
alternatives. We refuse to trade one form of exclusion for

another.

House Bill 225 also strengthens and expands the role of the Employment First Task Force,
which will play a central role in assisting employers with the

transition. This Task Force will review employer plans, align services with national
standards, and identify strategies to improve both employment and

health outcomes for individuals with developmental disabilities.

This bill establishes a coordinated, thoughtful transition toward personalized, supportive
employment for Ohioans with physical and intellectual disabilities.

Under the bill, employers holding a sub-minimum wage certificate, whether state or
federal, must submit a transition plan within 15 months. These employers

will receive direct support from the Department of Developmental Disabilities and the
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Agency as they move toward

competitive, integrated

employment models. Throughout the five-year transition period, the state will gather,
monitor, and publicly report progress to ensure transparency and

accountability.

And here’s where the business case meets the moral one.

House Bill 225 includes a nonrefundable 15% tax credit for businesses and individuals who
purchase goods or services from certified nonprofits that employ

people with disabilities in integrated settings and offer health insurance benefits.
Employers who employ those with physical and intellectual disabilities

often see higher retention, stronger workplace morale, and increased productivity.

Together, we can send a clear message: if you invest in people with disabilities, Ohio will
invest in you.

And, Ohio is not alone in this effort. Sixteen states have already legislated or initiated the
phase-out of sub-minimum wages. Texas and Washington have
ended their 14(c) contracts. Alabama, the District of Columbia, Vermont, and Wyoming
currently have no active 14(c) certificates. The momentum is real,

and Ohio has an opportunity to lead.

Just last year, the Northern District of Ohio awarded back pay and damages to three
individuals with disabilities who were unlawfully paid sub-minimum

wages, affirming what the U.S. Department of Labor concluded in 2016: disability alone is
not a justification for lower wages.



Thank you Chair Johnson, Vice Chair Lear, Ranking Member McNally, and members of the
House Commerce and Labor Committee for your attention to this important

legislation.



Richard Payne, President National Federation of the Blind of Ohio



The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its members and all blind people
in the United States. We know that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or
your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations
create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. Our collective power,
determination, and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.


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