Hawaii Senate Bill SCR157

Hawaii 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/10/23
• Refer: 3/15/23

Caption

Requesting The Department Of Human Resources Development To Draft A Report On How A Study May Be Conducted On Gender Pay Inequities And What Considerations Need To Be Taken.

Impact

The resolution requests the Department of Human Resources Development to draft a report detailing how a study on gender pay inequities might be conducted and what considerations should be taken into account. This report would serve as a necessary foundation for understanding the extent of gender pay disparities and could potentially inform future legislation aimed at rectifying the identified issues. By addressing these pay disparities within the state workforce, it is anticipated that broader pay equity initiatives could be initiated.

Summary

SCR157 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution that aims to address the ongoing issue of gender pay inequities within the State of Hawaii. Citing data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the resolution highlights that, as of 2019, women in Hawaii earned only 89.4% of what their male counterparts made. The resolution underscores the state’s role as a major employer and suggests that achieving gender pay equality within state government could have a significant positive impact on overall pay equity throughout the state.

Contention

While the resolution is intended to promote equality, there may be contention regarding the methods and scope of the proposed study. Stakeholders may debate the prioritization of gender pay equity versus other fiscal considerations, such as budget constraints or the state of the economy. Additionally, the resolution’s formulation and implementation could face scrutiny from various groups advocating for different aspects of equal rights, potentially complicating the discourse surrounding gender pay equity in Hawaii.