PUBLIC Law, Chapter 35, An Act Regarding Pay Equality

An Act Regarding Pay Equality

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §4577 is enacted to read:

§ 4577. Compensation history inquiry as evidence of unlawful discrimination

1. Legislative findings and intent. The Legislature finds that despite requirements regarding equal pay having been a part of the laws of Maine since 1965, wage inequality is an ongoing issue in the State. Wage inequality causes substantial harm to the citizens and to the economy of the State. The Legislature finds that when employers base compensation decisions on compensation history of a prospective employee, it directly perpetuates this wage inequality. An employer's knowledge of a prospective employee's compensation history is directly related to the practice of basing compensation decisions on compensation history. It is the intent of the Legislature to promote the payment of equal compensation for comparable work on jobs that have comparable requirements relating to skill, effort and responsibility and to prevent unlawful employment discrimination with respect to compensation.

2. Evidence of unlawful employment discrimination. Evidence of unlawful employment discrimination under section 4572 and Title 26, section 628 includes, but is not limited to, an employer's inquiring, either directly or indirectly, about the compensation history of a prospective employee from the prospective employee or a current or former employer of the prospective employee or otherwise seeking the compensation history of a prospective employee.

3. Exceptions. Notwithstanding subsection 2, an employer or employment agency may inquire about or seek compensation history of an employee or prospective employee after an offer of employment that includes all terms of compensation has been negotiated and made to the prospective employee. If an employee or prospective employee has voluntarily disclosed compensation history information, without prompting by the employer or employment agency, the employer or employment agency may seek to confirm or permit a prospective employee to confirm such information prior to an offer of employment. This section does not apply to an employer who inquires about compensation history pursuant to any federal or state law that specifically requires the disclosure or verification of compensation history for employment purposes.

Sec. 2. 26 MRSA §626-A, first ¶, as amended by PL 1999, c. 465, §5, is further amended to read:

Whoever violates any of the provisions of sections 621-A to 623 or section 626, 628, 628-A, 629 or 629-B is subject to a forfeiture of not less than $100 nor more than $500 for each violation.

Sec. 3. 26 MRSA §628, first ¶, as amended by PL 2009, c. 29, §1, is further amended to read:

An employer may not discriminate between employees in the same establishment on the basis of sex by paying wages to any employee in any occupation in this State at a rate less than the rate at which the employer pays any employee of the opposite sex for comparable work on jobs that have comparable requirements relating to skill, effort and responsibility. Differentials that are paid pursuant to established seniority systems or merit increase systems or difference in the shift or time of the day worked that do not discriminate on the basis of sex are not within this prohibition. An employer may not discharge or discriminate against any employee by reason of any action taken by such employee to invoke or assist in any manner the enforcement of this section. An employer may not prohibit an employee from disclosing the employee's own wages or from inquiring about or disclosing another employee's wages if the purpose of the disclosure or inquiry is to enforce the rights granted by this section. Nothing in this section creates an obligation to disclose wages.

Sec. 4. 26 MRSA §628-A is enacted to read:

§ 628-A. Compensation history inquiry prohibited

2. Prohibition. An employer may not use or inquire about the compensation history of a prospective employee from the prospective employee or a current or former employer of the prospective employee unless an offer of employment that includes all terms of compensation has been negotiated and made to the prospective employee, after which the employer may inquire about or confirm the prospective employee's compensation history.

3. Exception. This section does not apply to an employer who inquires about compensation history pursuant to any federal or state law that specifically requires the disclosure or verification of compensation history for employment purposes.

4. Penalty. This section may be enforced pursuant to section 626-A. The civil action provided pursuant to section 626-A may be brought to enforce this section by or on behalf of a person affected by a violation of subsection 2 or by the Department of Labor on behalf of a person affected by a violation of subsection 2, and the plaintiff or plaintiffs may also seek judgment for compensatory damages.

Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 129th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.

SP0090 LD 278	PUBLIC Law, Chapter 35 on - Session - 129th Maine Legislature
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