Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act
IntroducedJuly 24, 2025
Introduced1 year ago
Intro
Senate
House
Pres
Introduced in Senate
Labor and Employment
Why This Matters
This bill helps employers who pay people with disabilities sub-minimum wages under special certificates to shift to regular employment at fair wages, provides grants and technical assistance, and phases out those certificates over five years.
Who this affects
People with disabilities · Employers using certificates · State governments · Local governments
What changes is this bill making?
1Establishes competitive integrated employment transformation grant programs for States and employers to redesign business models, pay at least the higher of the Federal or State minimum wage, and offer wraparound community services.
2Requires States to submit plans with timelines, stakeholder engagement, and evaluation methods to help employers transition away from using special certificates under FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938).
3Offers smaller grants directly to eligible entities using special certificates in States without a State grant to redesign contracts, train staff, and move employees into competitive integrated jobs.
4Phases out special certificates by increasing permitted wage rates from 60 percent of the Federal minimum wage up to 100 percent over five years, bans new certificates, and ends all existing certificates after five years.
5Creates a technical assistance grant for a nonprofit to collect and share best practices, coordinate resources across federal agencies, and raise awareness of Employment First and ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) account options.
6Mandates multi-year impact evaluations and annual wage and hour reports on employees with disabilities, covering wages, hours, employment settings, and transitions to integrated jobs.
7Defines key terms, sets up advisory councils, and authorizes $200 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, with 1 percent for technical assistance under Title III.
