PRINTER'S NO. 1560
No. 281 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY WATSON, ADOLPH, BELFANTI, BENNINGHOFF, BIANCUCCI, BOBACK, CALTAGIRONE, CAPPELLI, CLYMER, COHEN, DALEY, DePASQUALE, EVERETT, FLECK, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, HARHAI, HARKINS, HARPER, HENNESSEY, HERSHEY, JAMES, JOSEPHS, KENNEY, KIRKLAND, KOTIK, KULA, MAJOR, MANDERINO, MANN, McILHATTAN, MOYER, MUNDY, MUSTIO, PALLONE, PETRARCA, PICKETT, RAPP, READSHAW, REED, REICHLEY, RUBLEY, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SEIP, SURRA, SWANGER, TRUE, VEREB, WALKO, WHEATLEY, WOJNAROSKI AND YOUNGBLOOD, MAY 18, 2007
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LABOR RELATIONS, MAY 18, 2007
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1 Directing the Joint State Government Commission to study the 2 issue of workplace pay disparity, to reexamine existing 3 Federal and State laws relating to that issue and to make 4 recommendations to the General Assembly. 5 WHEREAS, Women work for pay in greater numbers, in more 6 occupations and for more years of their lives than ever before; 7 and 8 WHEREAS, The year 2007 marks the 48th anniversary of the act 9 of December 17, 1959 (P.L.1913, No.694), known as the Equal Pay 10 Law, a law which is as relevant today as it was on the day it 11 was signed; and 12 WHEREAS, The Equal Pay Law, along with the act of October 27, 13 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania Human 14 Relations Act, the Equal Pay Act of 1963 (Public Law 88-38, 77 15 Stat. 56) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Public
1 Law 88-352, 78 Stat. 241), provides a critical foundation for 2 women seeking greater opportunities in the workplace and 3 compensation without wage discrimination; and 4 WHEREAS, Legislative efforts are currently under way at the 5 Federal level which call for enhanced enforcement of equal pay 6 laws as well as additional policy initiatives and improved 7 training for government agencies charged with enforcing equal 8 pay requirements under the law; and 9 WHEREAS, A 1994 survey conducted by the Department of Labor, 10 Women's Bureau, found that improving pay and benefits was one of 11 working women's three main priorities for change, along with 12 balancing work and family and gaining respect and opportunity on 13 the job, and the issue of equal pay continues to resonate among 14 women; and 15 WHEREAS, Women's share of the labor force is continuing to 16 increase, with the effects of wage disparity following women 17 throughout their lives as pension and Social Security benefits 18 are based on pay earned while working; and 19 WHEREAS, Pay disparities depress the wages of working 20 families who rely on the wages of all members of the family to 21 make ends meet, prevent maximum utilization of available labor 22 resources and violate the longstanding public policy of the 23 Commonwealth against wage discrimination; and 24 WHEREAS, There is a need for a comprehensive reexamination of 25 the role of Federal and State laws in deterring workplace wage 26 discrimination; therefore be it 27 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly 28 direct the Joint State Government Commission to study workplace 29 pay disparity in this Commonwealth; and be it further 30 RESOLVED, That the area of review include a study of the 20070H0281R1560 - 2 -
1 Equal Pay Law, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, the Equal 2 Pay Act of 1963 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to 3 determine their effectiveness in deterring wage disparity in the 4 workplace, a review of current Federal and State law to 5 determine if additional policy initiatives, outreach programs or 6 legislation is needed to ensure equal pay in this Commonwealth, 7 a review of current training and funding mechanisms to determine 8 if government agencies have the tools and resources they need to 9 identify and pursue equal pay violations and a study of Federal 10 policy initiatives addressing wage disparity as they may apply 11 to this Commonwealth; and be it further 12 RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission report 13 its findings, recommendations and proposed legislation to the 14 General Assembly by November 30, 2007. E1L82JAM/20070H0281R1560 - 3 -