S. 4984Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Restoration of Employment Choice for Adults with Disabilities Act

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Updated July 21, 2026 at 2:21 AM UTC

The Restoration of Employment Choice for Adults with Disabilities Act amends the Rehabilitation Act’s sub‑minimum wage rules to expand coverage to adults 18 and older and to give those individuals the choice to accept such employment. It also clarifies employer and state‑unit responsibilities for counseling and documentation, aiming to increase workplace options for young adults with disabilities.

Key Provisions

Changes the rule so that any individual who is 18 years or older, not just those 24 or younger, can be covered by the sub‑minimum wage provision.
Replaces “unless” with “if,” giving the individual the right to choose whether to accept employment at the lower wage rate.
Adds a new paragraph stating that the individual must voluntarily choose to work for the employer offering the sub‑minimum wage.
Updates an age reference in another subsection from “24” to “17,” further clarifying who is affected.
Creates an exception allowing an employer to meet counseling requirements if it documents attempts to contact the state’s counseling unit and the state unit fails to respond.
Requires that, when an individual is employed by such an employer, copies of any required documentation be provided to the employer.

Legislative Activity

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SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

July 15, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

July 15, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

July 15, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued July 15, 2026

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4984

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 15, 2026

Mr. Cotton introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

A BILL

To amend the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to ensure workplace choice and opportunity for young adults with disabilities.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Restoration of Employment Choice for Adults with Disabilities Act.

Use of subminimum wage

Section 511 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794g) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)—

(A)

in the matter preceding paragraph (1)—

(i)

by striking No and inserting Any;

(ii)

by striking 24 or younger and inserting 18 or older; and

(iii)

by striking unless and inserting if; and

(B)

by inserting at the end the following new paragraph:

(3)

The individual chooses to accept employment with such entity.

;

(2)

in subsection (b)(2), by striking 24 and inserting 17;

(3)

in subsection (c), by inserting at the end the following new paragraph:

(4)

Other exceptions

The entity described in subsection (a) can satisfy the requirements of paragraph (1)(A) with respect to an individual, if—

(A)

such entity makes documented efforts, at the intervals described in paragraph (2), to contact on behalf of the individual, the designated State unit for the counseling, information, and referrals described in paragraph (1)(A); and

(B)

such designated State unit fails to provide such counseling, information, and referrals after such documented efforts.

; and

(4)

in subsection (d)(1), by inserting before the period at the end the following: and, if such individual is employed by an entity described in subsection (a) at the time such documentation is made pursuant to such process, to make available copies of such documentation to the entity.

Application

The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to the employment of an individual on or after the date of enactment of this Act.