Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires state contractors to comply with federal equal pay standards.

Highlights:

• Requires a business with 50 or more employees to comply with certain standards in order to receive a state contract, including but not limited to the following requirements (Sec. 1):
• The business does not pay any of its employees lower rates for similar work based on the employee’s disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, national origin, or ancestry;
• The business does not discipline employees for sharing information about compensation with other employees;
• The business provides information about the salary range for the position in any job postings; and
• The business periodically evaluates wages and benefits to ensure compliance with equal pay standards.

• Requires a state contracted business to keep and maintain records, including, but not limited to the following information (Sec. 1):
• Information about the number of employees employed by the business, categorized by occupation, and within each occupation, categorized by race, sex, and national origin;
• Information about the average annual salaries of employees within each job category, categorized by race, sex, and national origin; and 
• Information about the average length of employment for employees in each job category, categorized by race, sex, and national origin.

• Establishes the following fines for a violation of the provisions of this bill (Sec. 1):
• $5,000 or an amount equal to 1 percent of the cost of the contract or subcontract for the first violation, whichever is less;
• $10,000 or an amount equal to 1 percent of the cost of the contract or subcontract for the second violation, whichever is less; and
• $25,000 or an amount equal to 1 percent of the cost of the contract or subcontract for the third or any subsequent violation, whichever is less.

• Authorizes a government entity to terminate a contract with a contractor or subcontractor who knowingly did not comply with the provisions of this bill (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text