THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY ORIE, KITCHEN, ALLOWAY, BAKER, BOSCOLA, BROWNE, BRUBAKER, DINNIMAN, EARLL, FARNESE, FERLO, FONTANA, GREENLEAF, HUGHES, KASUNIC, LEACH, LOGAN, MELLOW, MUSTO, O'PAKE, PIPPY, RAFFERTY, STACK, STOUT, TARTAGLIONE, WASHINGTON, WAUGH, M. WHITE, WILLIAMS AND WONDERLING, MAY 1, 2009

REFERRED TO LABOR AND INDUSTRY, MAY 1, 2009  

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Directing the Joint State Government Commission to study the

issue of workplace pay disparity, to reexamine existing

Federal and State laws relating to that issue and to make

recommendations to the General Assembly.

WHEREAS, Women work for pay in greater numbers, in more

occupations and for more years of their lives than ever before;

and

WHEREAS, The year 2009 marks the 50th anniversary of the act

of December 17, 1959 (P.L.1913, No.694), known as the Equal Pay

Law, a law which is as relevant today as it was on the day it

was signed; and

WHEREAS, The Equal Pay Law, along with the act of October 27,

1955 (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania Human

Relations Act, the Equal Pay Act of 1963 (Public Law 88-38, 77

Stat. 56) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Public

Law 88-352, 78 Stat. 241), provides a critical foundation for

women seeking greater opportunities in the workplace and

compensation without wage discrimination; and

WHEREAS, Legislative efforts are currently under way at the

Federal level which call for enhanced enforcement of equal pay

laws as well as additional policy initiatives and improved

training for government agencies charged with enforcing equal

pay requirements under the law; and

WHEREAS, A 1994 survey conducted by the Department of Labor,

Women's Bureau, found that improving pay and benefits was one of

working women's three main priorities for change, along with

balancing work and family and gaining respect and opportunity on

the job, and the issue of equal pay continues to resonate among

women; and

WHEREAS, Women's share of the labor force is continuing to

increase, with the effects of wage disparity following women

throughout their lives as pension and Social Security benefits

are based on pay earned while working; and

WHEREAS, Pay disparities depress the wages of working

families who rely on the wages of all members of the family to

make ends meet, prevent maximum utilization of available labor

resources and violate the longstanding public policy of the

Commonwealth against wage discrimination; and

WHEREAS, There is a need for a comprehensive reexamination of

the role of Federal and State laws in deterring workplace wage

discrimination; therefore be it

RESOLVED (the House of Representatives concurring), That the

General Assembly direct the Joint State Government Commission to

study workplace pay disparity in this Commonwealth; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That the area of review include a study of the

Equal Pay Law, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, the Equal

Pay Act of 1963 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to

determine their effectiveness in deterring wage disparity in the

workplace, a review of current Federal and State law to

determine if additional policy initiatives, outreach programs or

legislation is needed to ensure equal pay in this Commonwealth,

a review of current training and funding mechanisms to determine

if government agencies have the tools and resources they need to

identify and pursue equal pay violations and a study of Federal

policy initiatives addressing wage disparity as they may apply

to this Commonwealth; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission report

its findings, recommendations and proposed legislation to the

General Assembly by November 30, 2009.