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Regular Session, 2012
SENATE BILL NO. 577
BY SENATOR PETERSON
EMPLOYMENT. Establishes and provides for the Louisiana Equal Pay Task Force to study
and make recommendations relating to equal pay issues in Louisiana. (gov sig)
AN ACT1
To enact Part XIV of Chapter 9 of Title 23 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be2
comprised of R.S. 23:1019 through 1019.2, relative to employment; to create the3
Louisiana Equal Pay Task Force; to provide for purpose; to provide for composition4
of the task force; to provide for duties and powers of the task force; to provide for5
reporting deadlines; and to provide for related matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. Part XIV of Chapter 9 of Title 23 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes,8
comprised of R.S. 23:1019 through 1019.2, is hereby enacted to read as follows: 9
PART XIV. LOUISIANA EQUAL PAY TASK FORCE10
§1019. Louisiana Equal Pay Task Force; creation; definitions11
A. The Louisiana Equal Pay Task Force is created to study and make12
recommendations relating to equal pay issues in the state of Louisiana. The13
task force shall be created not later than August 1, 2012.14
B. The task force shall assist the Louisiana Workforce Commission and15
other agencies in this state to:16
(1) Study the extent of wage disparities between men and women in17 SB NO. 577
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certain public sectors.1
(2) Study the factors that cause or tend to cause wage disparities,2
including segregation between men and women across and within certain3
occupations and professions; payment of lower wages for female-dominated4
occupations; child-rearing responsibilities; and education and training.5
(3) Study the consequences of such disparities on the state's economy and6
on families.7
(4) Collect data which provides statistics on women's pay categorized by8
ethnic group from each state department.9
(5) Develop actions, including but not limited to legislation, that are10
likely to lead to the elimination and prevention of wage disparities.11
§1019.1. Structure and composition of the task force12
A. There shall be seven members of the task force appointed as follows:13
(1) The executive director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, or14
a designee.15
(2) The chairwoman of the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus, or16
her designee.17
(3) One member appointed by the president of the Louisiana Senate.18
(4) One member appointed by the speaker of the Louisiana House of19
Representatives.20
(5) The state treasurer, or a designee.21
(6) One member appointed by the Louisiana Association of Business and22
Industry.23
(7) One member appointed by the American Federation of Labor and24
Congress of Industrial Organizations.25
B. A chairperson shall be elected from the membership.26
C. Staff for the task force shall be provided by the Louisiana Workforce27
Commission. Other state agencies shall assist the task force as requested.28
§1019.2. Reports29 SB NO. 577
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The task force shall make monthly reports detailing its progress to the1
Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations, the Senate Committee on2
Finance, the House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations, and the3
House Committee on Appropriations. The task force shall submit its final4
report to the legislature and to the governor no later than March 1, 2013. The5
report shall include the task force's findings and recommendations, including6
proposed legislation, to eliminate and prevent wage disparities between men and7
women in the work force in Louisiana.8
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not9
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature10
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If11
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become12
effective on the day following such approval.13
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Carla S. Roberts.
DIGEST
Peterson (SB 577)
Proposed law creates the Louisiana Equal Pay Task Force to study and make
recommendations relating to equal pay issues in the state of Louisiana.
Provides for the task force to study the extent of wage disparities between men and women
in certain public sectors; study factors that cause wage disparities and the consequences;
collect data on women's pay; and develop actions, including legislation, which may
eliminate and prevent wage disparities.
Provides for the task force to have seven members as follows:
1. Executive director of the La. Workforce Commission.
2. Chairwoman of the Legislative Women's Caucus.
3. One member appointed by the Senate president.
4. One member appointed by the House speaker.
5. The state treasurer.
6. One member appointed by the La. Association of Business and Industry.
7. One member appointed by the AFL-CIO. SB NO. 577
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Proposed law requires the task force to make monthly reports detailing its progress to the
Senate committees on Labor and Finance and House committees on Labor and
Appropriations.
Requires the task force to submit its final report to the legislature and governor by March
1, 2013.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 23:1019-1019.2)