By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Developmentally disabled Illinoisans would get the minimum wage under a bill awaiting the governor’s action. 

The Senate sponsor, Cristina Castro (D-Elgin), can name one employer whose clients would benefit.

“SPARC, a wonderful (developmentally disabled) service provider here in Springfield, provides subminimum work options for the individuals they serve and they support this bill,” Castro told her colleagues. “Their CEO, Doug McDonald, said recently, ‘People with intellectual developmental disabilities deserve this change. they’re human beings, and they deserve the same respect, the same protections as the rest of us.'”

Still, State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet), whose district is on the Indiana border, says otherwise.

“Indiana’s minimum wage is $7.35 an hour,” he said. “From Paris, Ill., to Terre Haute is about twenty minutes. (For Illinois’ minimum wage of) $15 an hour, you just put all those folks this bill is designed to help out of business.”

The Senate sent Gov. JB Pritzker the bill Thursday, the last day of fall veto session. He has praised the bill.

HB 793 awaits the governor’s action.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]