(a) Any person handicapped by lack of skill, age, or physical or mental deficiency or injury in any way that his or her earning capacity is impaired shall be granted a temporary special exemption license or permit authorizing the employment of the person at wages lower than the minimum prescribed in this subchapter until such time as the Director of the Department of Labor shall hold a hearing and prescribe regulations regarding exemption of these persons as authorized in this section.

(b)

(1) The director may provide by regulation, after notice and public hearing at which any person may be heard, for the employment in any occupation of individuals whose earning capacity is impaired by age or physical or mental deficiency or injury at wages lower than the minimum wage rate provided in § 11-4-210 as he or she may find appropriate to prevent curtailment of opportunities for employment, to avoid undue hardship, and to safeguard the minimum wage rate under this subchapter.

(2) In addition, the director, by regulation or special order, may provide for the employment of handicapped clients in work activities centers under special certificates at wages that are less than the minimum prescribed in § 11-4-210 that the director determines constitutes equitable compensation for the clients in work activities centers.

(c) For the purposes of this section, the term "work activities centers" shall mean centers planned and designed exclusively to provide therapeutic activities for handicapped clients whose physical and mental impairment is so severe as to make their productivity capacities inconsequential.