Signed by Governor Bobby Jindal

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires equal pay for state employees.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a state “employer” from discriminating against a female “employee” on the basis of sex by paying her a lesser wage than that of a male employee for the same or substantially similar work, except under certain circumstances including, but not limited to, the following circumstances (Sec. 1):
• The wage is based on seniority;
• The wage is based on a merit system; or
• The wage is based on quantity or quality of production.

• Defines “employer” as any department, office, division, agency, commission, board, committee or other organizational unit of the state (Sec. 1).

• Defines “employee” as a female who is employed to work 40 or more hours a week by an employer (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes an employee to take the following actions if she believes her employer has violated the provisions of this bill (Sec. 1):
• File a written notice of the alleged violation with the employer, who will have 60 days to investigate and remedy the violation;
• File a complaint with the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights if her employer fails to resolve the dispute within 60 days; and
• File a civil suit against her employer if the commission is unable or fails to mediate or resolve the dispute.

• Requires an employer who violates the provisions of this bill to pay the affected employee’s attorney fees and unpaid wages, limited to those from the 36 month period prior to the employee giving written notice to the employer (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the settlement of a dispute by an agreement between the employer and employee for a lesser amount than the employee claims is due to her (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that an employee found by a court to have brought a “frivolous” claim will be held liable to the employer for reasonable damages, attorney fees, and court costs (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires equal pay for state employees.

Highlights:

• Prohibits an "employer" from discriminating against an "employee" on the basis of sex by paying them a lesser wage than that of another employee of a different sex for the same or substantially similar work, except under certain circumstances including, but not limited to, the following circumstances (Sec. 1):
• The wage is based on seniority;
• The wage is based on a merit system; or
• The wage is based on quantity or quality of production.

• Defines “employer” as any department, office, division, agency, commission, board, committee or other organizational unit of the state (Sec. 1).

• Defines “employee” as any individual employed to work 40 hours or more a week and any female employed by the employer (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text