SE Illinois News

On Oct. 25th, Charlie Meier, House Representative of the Illinois House of Representatives, Illinois General Assembly voiced his concerns over pending legislation that he believes could have a profound impact on residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

"We are here to protect the jobs of our residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We want to protect their choice, their job. We are here today in opposition to legislation pending in the Illinois House of Representatives, House Bill 793, that would put at least 50% of the 14c workshop employees with developmental and intellectual disabilities and service providers out of work throughout the state," said Meier. He further pointed out potential unintended consequences such as possible reductions in Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability insurance for workers shifting to minimum wage jobs.

Meier went onto explain that this could also pose an extra cost burden for families who may need to find adult daycare services for loved ones no longer employed because of this legislation. Furthermore, service providers might be unable to afford paying minimum wage to workers with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Meier was elected in 2013 as a representative for the community in District 108 of Illinois. According to his legislative biography, Meier previously spent six years on the Washington County Board and is a resident there on his family's Centennial Farm. His achievements include being awarded State of Illinois Conservation Farm Family of the Year in 2009 and developing subdivisions with villas and single family residences.

Recently, Meier has been vocal about better care needed for residents partaking in Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA) program homes – programs where up to eight unrelated adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities live together in taxpayer-funded group homes licensed by the State and operated by a private community development service agency.

House Bill 793 is under scrutiny since it may remove employers' ability to pay individuals who are developmentally disabled anything under minimum wage. The bill states: "Requires the Department of Human Services, in partnership with other specified State agencies, to eliminate on July 1, 2027 the use of active or pending 14(c) certificates authorized under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938." This legislation is seen by critics as a potentially significant setback for employees with disabilities and service providers alike.