Proponent Testimony on H.B. 225 — Suzanne Turner, House Commerce and Labor Committee

Summary

Proponent testimony for H.B. 225 by Suzanne Turner, dated May 12, 2025, addressed to Chair Johnson, Vice Chair Lear, Ranking Member McNally, and members of the House Commerce and Labor Committee. The testimony states support for ending subminimum wage in Ohio and describes the witness's own experience of earning subminimum wages. It states that at that time the minimum wage was $3.35 an hour and the witness earned $1.99 per hour. It says the issue must be abolished and asks for an end to the certificate.

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“Proponent Testimony on H.B. 225 — Suzanne Turner, House Commerce and Labor Committee.” Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2025-05-14-commerce-labor-testimony-testimony-7596-1400c228fa/, SHA-256 3e1052576aea1b431b19f5e0d0f495c723a26af93f69d79a909837eff2b26b70.

Full text

Suzanne Turner

1127 Euclid Ave. Apt 719

Cleveland, Ohio 44115

(216) 990-6199

Smturner.234@gmail.com

May 12, 2025

I would like to give proponent testimony for H.B. 225

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

My name is Suzanne Turner, and I am honored to stand before you in support of H.B.225.

The State of Ohio has put forth many wonderful and important laws that have greatly improved
lives; from keeping Ohioans safe during the pandemic to making parks and other attractions
accessible for persons with disabilities. We are also fortunate to be an Ohio Employment First
State. Therefore, it would be equally incredible to be added to the states who have eliminated
subminimum wage.

As a former victim of this discrimination, I was able to propel myself into competitive
employment. I stand before you as a retiree from the Social Security Administration and in 2010
who earned over 70k. I am also a former employee of Medical Mutual of Ohio and a nonprofit.
Currently I am employed with the Department of Defense. I say this to say that if I had stayed
in that environment, my opportunities would have been limited. It is persons like me who have
the potential to pay back into the trust fund, pay taxes and be self-sufficient. Our children do
not care that we are disabled. They want the Jordan’s, attend high school proms and more as
their friends do. This requires earning more than one dollar an hour.
This humiliating issue must be abolished. There is dignity of all work. However, that dignity is
removed when persons with disabilities are not able to take part in the American dream. The
dream of owning a home, the dream of traveling, the dream of earning equal pay along-side of
nondisabled workers. Most of all, the dream to feel acknowledge, successful and accomplished.
People with disabilities do not want a handout, just a hand up. Thus, not rely on a monthly
benefit, such as Supplemental Security Income or Medicaid. To live in society, one has to have
a competitive income, especially if you have the drive, ambition and equal opportunity to earn
more than subminimum wages.

The most memorable event in working earning subminimum wage was when I achieved a task,
the company would move me, so I did not reach minimum wage. The realization came to me
later, when I inquired why I was being moved so often. It was the company wanting to
continue receiving funding from the state, alleging that I had not successfully performed. I
worked hard to ensure that I achieved as my “so called normal co-workers” so I could earn
more money. However, assessments, which was the code used against me. At that time, the
minimum wage was $3.35 an hour. I earned $1.99 per hour.

Also, another reminder was in the city of Cleveland, I was packing sponges into boxes. These
boxes had to be filled to the top. They had to be 24/24. Each time I filled it up, I earned $2.00.
The sad fact about my experiences is that it is still prevalent in 2025.

Finally, the Americans with Disability Act will be 35 years old this year. As a birthday present to
Ohio’s disability community, unwrapping this gift of “abolishing subminimum wage” will be “the
most wonderful time of the year” which would be Christmas in July.

Please take high consideration in ending this restrictive, and yet debilitating certificate!

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