AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS PAY EQUITY AND FAIRNESS MATTERS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

That the general statutes be amended to: (1) Prohibit employers from asking a prospective employee's wage and salary history before an employment offer with compensation has been negotiated, provided prospective employees may volunteer information on their wage and salary history, (2) prohibit employers from using an employee's previous wage or salary history as a defense in an equal pay lawsuit, (3) permit an employer to have an affirmative defense in an equal pay lawsuit if it can demonstrate that, within three years prior to commencement of the lawsuit, the employer completed a good faith self-evaluation of its pay practices and can demonstrate that reasonable progress has been made towards eliminating gender-based wage differentials, and (4) protect seniority pay differentials from adverse adjustments for time spent on leave due to pregnancy-related conditions or protected parental, family and medical leave.

Statement of Purpose:

To strengthen provisions of the law concerning pay equity and fairness.