The Georgia legislature gave final approval to a bill that would require companies to pay Georgians with intellectual disabilities a minimum wage.
Under current state law, some Georgians with intellectual disabilities can legally be paid as little as $0.22 per hour. Senate Bill 55 would require companies to pay those affected at least $7.25 an hour, equal to the federal minimum wage.
Rep. Sharon Cooper carried the bill in the House.
“It’s about dignity and fairness and making sure that people with disabilities are paid at least what we consider the bare minimum wage for all other workers,” Cooper said.
Senate Bill 55 passed the House on March 18 with overwhelming bipartisan support. The measure passed the Senate earlier this session and now heads to Gov. Kemp’s desk to be signed into law.
This article appears on Now Habersham in partnership with GPB News
