HB1546

House Bill 1546 establishes state-level recognition and protection for organizations operating under Section 14(c) of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act within Arkansas. Section 14(c) certificates allow employers to pay individuals with disabilities subminimum wages under specific conditions. The bill declares legislative intent to support these organizations, asserting that they provide vital services to individuals with disabilities. It mandates that as long as an organization holds a valid federal 14(c) certificate, the State of Arkansas will recognize its operations as legal and provide state-level protections for those activities. The act does not create new regulations but formalizes state support for the continued existence of sheltered workshops and similar employment models.