Act to Establish Pay Equity

A BILL TO ENACT THE "ACT TO ESTABLISH PAY EQUITY"; TO AMEND TITLE 41 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT, BY ADDING CHAPTER 11, TO PROVIDE THAT NO EMPLOYER SHALL PAY WAGES TO ANY EMPLOYEE AT A RATE LESS THAN THE RATE PAID TO EMPLOYEES OF ANOTHER RACE, RELIGION, COLOR, SEX, INCLUDING GENDER IDENTITY AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AGE, NATIONAL ORIGIN, OR DISABILITY STATUS FOR COMPARABLE WORK AND TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS, TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES RELATING TO REQUESTS FOR THE DISCLOSURE OF WAGES ARE UNLAWFUL AND TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS, TO PROVIDE THAT A CIVIL ACTION ASSERTING A VIOLATION MAY BE MAINTAINED AGAINST ANY EMPLOYER IN ANY COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE RECOVERY OF UNPAID WAGES AND DAMAGES, TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR AN EMPLOYER WHO VIOLATES THE ACT TO ESTABLISH PAY EQUITY, TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, LICENSING, AND REGULATION SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE VIOLATIONS AND TO BRING ACTION, TO PROVIDE THAT EVERY EMPLOYER SHALL POST CERTAIN INFORMATION IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS.