S.Amdt. 3808

1. Replaces the bill's text with a full substitute

   Replaces the full textEverything after the enacting clause

   In S. 2199 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

   This Act may be cited as the "[struck: Paycheck][inserted: Ensuring] Fairness [inserted: in Pay ]Act".

   Struck: SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

   Struck: Congress finds the following:

   Struck: (1) Women have entered the workforce in record numbers over the past 50 years.

   Struck: (2) Despite the enactment of the Equal Pay Act in 1963, many women continue to earn significantly lower pay than men for equal work. These pay disparities exist in both the private and governmental sectors. In many instances, the pay disparities can only be due to continued intentional discrimination or the lingering effects of past discrimination.

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   Struck: (3) The existence of such pay disparities--

   Struck: (A) depresses the wages of working families who rely on the wages of all members of the family to make ends meet;

   Struck: (B) undermines women's retirement security, which is often based on earnings while in the workforce;

   Struck: (C) prevents the optimum utilization of available labor resources;

   Struck: (D) has been spread and perpetuated, through commerce and the channels and instrumentalities of commerce, among the workers of the several States;

   Struck: (E) burdens commerce and the free flow of goods in commerce;

   Struck: (F) constitutes an unfair method of competition in commerce;

   Struck: (G) leads to labor disputes burdening and obstructing commerce and the free flow of goods in commerce;

   Struck: (H) interferes with the orderly and fair marketing of goods in commerce; and

   Struck: (I) in many instances, may deprive workers of equal protection on the basis of sex in violation of the 5th and 14th Amendments.

   Struck: (4)(A) Artificial barriers to the elimination of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex continue to exist decades after the enactment of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.).

   Struck: (B) These barriers have resulted, in significant part, because the Equal Pay Act has not worked as Congress originally intended. Improvements and modifications to the law are necessary to ensure that the Act provides effective protection to those subject to pay discrimination on the basis of their sex.

   Struck: (C) Elimination of such barriers would have positive effects, including--

   Struck: (i) providing a solution to problems in the economy created by unfair pay disparities;

   Struck: (ii) substantially reducing the number of working women earning unfairly low wages, thereby reducing the dependence on public assistance;

   Struck: (iii) promoting stable families by enabling all family members to earn a fair rate of pay;

   Struck: (iv) remedying the effects of past discrimination on the basis of sex and ensuring that in the future workers are afforded equal protection on the basis of sex; and

   Struck: (v) ensuring equal protection pursuant to Congress' power to enforce the 5th and 14th Amendments.

   Struck: (5) The Department of Labor and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission have important and unique responsibilities to help ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work.

   Struck: (6) The Department of Labor is responsible for--

   Struck: (A) collecting and making publicly available information about women's pay;

   Struck: (B) ensuring that companies receiving Federal contracts comply with anti-discrimination affirmative action requirements of Executive Order 11246 (relating to equal employment opportunity);

   Struck: (C) disseminating information about women's rights in the workplace;

   Struck: (D) helping women who have been victims of pay discrimination obtain a remedy; and

   Struck: (E) being proactive in investigating and prosecuting equal pay violations, especially systemic violations, and in enforcing all of its mandates.

   Struck: (7) The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is the primary enforcement agency for claims made under the Equal Pay Act, and issues regulations and guidance on appropriate interpretations of the law.

   Struck: (8) With a stronger commitment by the Department of Labor and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to their responsibilities, increased information as a result of the amendments made by this Act to the Equal Pay Act of 1963, wage data, and more effective remedies, women will be better able to recognize and enforce their rights.

   Struck: (9) Certain employers have already made great strides in eradicating unfair pay disparities in the workplace and their achievements should be recognized.

   Struck: SEC. 3. ENHANCED ENFORCEMENT OF EQUAL PAY REQUIREMENTS.

   Inserted: SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON WAGE DISCRIMINATION.

   [struck: (a) Bona-Fide Factor Defense and Modification of Same Establishment Requirement.--]Section 6(d)[struck: (1)] of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(d)[struck: (1])[struck: )] is amended--

   Inserted: (1) in paragraph (1)--

   ([struck: 1][inserted: A]) by striking "[struck: No employer having][inserted: (1)]" and inserting "([inserted: 1)(]A)[struck: No employer having]";

   Struck: (2) by striking "any other factor other than sex" and inserting "a bona fide factor other than sex, such as education, training, or experience"; and

   Struck: (3) by inserting at the end the following:

   Struck: "(B) The bona fide factor defense described in subparagraph (A)(iv) shall apply only if the employer demonstrates that such factor (i) is not based upon or derived from a sex-based differential in compensation; (ii) is job-related with respect to the position in question; and (iii) is consistent with business necessity. Such defense shall not apply where the employee demonstrates that an alternative employment practice exists that would serve the same business purpose without producing such differential and that the employer has refused to adopt such alternative practice.

   Struck: "(C) For purposes of subparagraph (A), employees shall be deemed to work in the same establishment if the employees work for the same employer at workplaces located in the same county or similar political subdivision of a State. The preceding sentence shall not be construed as limiting broader applications of the term 'establishment' consistent with rules prescribed or guidance issued by the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission.".

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   Struck: (b) Nonretaliation Provision.--Section 15 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 215(a)(3)) is amended--

   Inserted: (B) by striking "made pursuant to" and all that follows and inserting the following: "made--

   Inserted: "(i) pursuant to a seniority system;

   Inserted: "(ii) pursuant to a merit or performance-based system;

   Inserted: "(iii) pursuant to a system which measures earnings by quantity or quality of production;

   Inserted: "(iv) on the basis of work-related expertise;

   Inserted: "(v) due to a shift differential, if the shift with the higher wage rate requires more work, or work that is more difficult or dangerous; or

   Inserted: "(vi) on the basis of a demonstrable factor other than sex, such as education, training, or experience.

   Inserted: "(B) An employer who is paying a wage rate differential in violation of this subsection shall not, in order to comply to comply with the provisions of this subsection, reduce the wage rate of any employee.";

   Inserted: (2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and

   Inserted: (3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:

   Inserted: "(4) Every employer, employment agency, and labor organization, as the case may be, shall post and keep posted in conspicuous places upon its premises where notices to employees, applicants for employment, and members are customarily posted, a notice to be prepared or approved by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that sets forth excerpts from, or summaries of, the pertinent provisions of this Act (relating to section 6(d)) and of title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.), and information pertinent to the filing of a complaint.".

   Inserted: SEC. 3. NONRETALIATION.

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   Inserted: Section 15 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 215) is amended--

   (1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking "employee has filed" and all that follows and inserting "employee--

   "(A) has made a charge or filed any complaint or instituted or caused to be instituted any investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action under or related to this Act, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or has testified or is planning to testify or has assisted or participated in any manner in any such investigation, proceeding, hearing[inserted: ,] or action, or has served or is planning to serve on an industry [struck: Committee][inserted: committee]; or

   "(B) has inquired about, discussed, or disclosed the wages of the employee or another employee[struck: .][inserted: ;]"; and

   (2) by adding at the end the following:

   "(c)[inserted: (1)] Subsection (a)(3)(B) shall not apply to instances in which an employee who has access to the wage information of other employees as a part of such employee's essential job functions discloses the wages of such other employees to [struck: individuals ][inserted: an individual ]who [struck: do][inserted: does] not otherwise have access to such information, unless such disclosure is in response to a [struck: complaint][inserted: charge] or [struck: charge][inserted: complaint] or in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action under section 6(d), including an investigation conducted by the employer.[struck: Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the rights of an employee provided under any other provision of law.".]

   Struck: (c) Enhanced Penalties.--Section 16(b) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 216(b)) is amended--

   Struck: (1) by inserting after the first sentence the following: "Any employer who violates section 6(d) shall additionally be liable for such compensatory damages, or, where the employee demonstrates that the employer acted with malice or reckless indifference, punitive damages as may be appropriate, except that the United States shall not be liable for punitive damages.";

   Struck: (2) in the sentence beginning "An action to", by striking "either of the preceding sentences" and inserting "any of the preceding sentences of this subsection";

   Struck: (3) in the sentence beginning "No employees shall", by striking "No employees" and inserting "Except with respect to class actions brought to enforce section 6(d), no employee";

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   Struck: (4) by inserting after the sentence referred to in paragraph (3), the following: "Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal law, any action brought to enforce section 6(d) may be maintained as a class action as provided by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure."; and

   Struck: (5) in the sentence beginning "The court in"--

   Struck: (A) by striking "in such action" and inserting "in any action brought to recover the liability prescribed in any of the preceding sentences of this subsection"; and

   Struck: (B) by inserting before the period the following: ", including expert fees".

   Struck: (d) Action by Secretary.--Section 16(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 216(c)) is amended--

   Struck: (1) in the first sentence--

   Struck: (A) by inserting "or, in the case of a violation of section 6(d), additional compensatory or punitive damages, as described in subsection (b)," before "and the agreement"; and

   Struck: (B) by inserting before the period the following: ", or such compensatory or punitive damages, as appropriate";

   Struck: (2) in the second sentence, by inserting before the period the following: "and, in the case of a violation of section 6(d), additional compensatory or punitive damages, as described in subsection (b)";

   Struck: (3) in the third sentence, by striking "the first sentence" and inserting "the first or second sentence"; and

   Struck: (4) in the last sentence--

   Struck: (A) by striking "commenced in the case" and inserting "commenced--

   Struck: "(1) in the case";

   Struck: (B) by striking the period and inserting "; or"; and

   Struck: (C) by adding at the end the following:

   Struck: "(2) in the case of a class action brought to enforce section 6(d), on the date on which the individual becomes a party plaintiff to the class action.".

   Struck: SEC. 4. TRAINING.

   Struck: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, subject to the availability of funds appropriated under section 10, shall provide training to Commission employees and affected individuals and entities on matters involving discrimination in the payment of wages.

   Struck: SEC. 5. NEGOTIATION SKILLS TRAINING FOR GIRLS AND WOMEN.

   Struck: (a) Program Authorized.--

   Struck: (1) In general.--The Secretary of Labor, after consultation with the Secretary of Education, is authorized to establish and carry out a grant program.

   Struck: (2) Grants.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary of Labor may make grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities, to carry out negotiation skills training programs for girls and women.

   Struck: (3) Eligible entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an entity shall be a public agency, such as a State, a local government in a metropolitan statistical area (as defined by the Office of Management and Budget), a State educational agency, or a local educational agency, a private nonprofit organization, or a community-based organization.

   Struck: (4) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an entity shall submit an application to the Secretary of Labor at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary of Labor may require.

   Struck: (5) Use of funds.--An entity that receives a grant under this subsection shall use the funds made available through the grant to carry out an effective negotiation skills training program that empowers girls and women. The training provided through the program shall help girls and women strengthen their negotiation skills to allow the girls and women to obtain higher salaries and rates of compensation that are equal to those paid to similarly situated male employees.

   Struck: (b) Incorporating Training Into Existing Programs.--The Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education shall issue regulations or policy guidance that provides for integrating the negotiation skills training, to the extent practicable, into programs authorized under--

   Struck: (1) in the case of the Secretary of Education, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998 (20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.), the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.), and other programs carried out by the Department of Education that the Secretary of Education determines to be appropriate; and

   Struck: (2) in the case of the Secretary of Labor, the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.), and other programs carried out by the Department of Labor that the Secretary of Labor determines to be appropriate.

   Struck: (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education shall prepare and submit to Congress a report describing the activities conducted under this section and evaluating the effectiveness of such activities in achieving the purposes of this Act.

   Struck: SEC. 6. RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH.

   Struck: The Secretary of Labor shall conduct studies and provide information to employers, labor organizations, and the general public concerning the means available to eliminate pay disparities between men and women, including--

   Struck: (1) conducting and promoting research to develop the means to correct expeditiously the conditions leading to the pay disparities;

   Struck: (2) publishing and otherwise making available to employers, labor organizations, professional associations, educational institutions, the media, and the general public the findings resulting from studies and other materials, relating to eliminating the pay disparities;

   Struck: (3) sponsoring and assisting State and community informational and educational programs;

   Struck: (4) providing information to employers, labor organizations, professional associations, and other interested persons on the means of eliminating the pay disparities;

   Struck: (5) recognizing and promoting the achievements of employers, labor organizations, and professional associations that have worked to eliminate the pay disparities; and

   Struck: (6) convening a national summit to discuss, and consider approaches for rectifying, the pay disparities.

   Struck: SEC. 7. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL AWARD FOR PAY EQUITY IN THE WORKPLACE.

   Struck: (a) In General.--There is established the Secretary of Labor's National Award for Pay Equity in the Workplace, which shall be awarded, as appropriate, to encourage proactive efforts to comply with section 6(d) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(d)).

   Struck: (b) Criteria for Qualification.--The Secretary of Labor shall set criteria for receipt of the award, including a requirement that an employer has made substantial effort to eliminate pay disparities between men and women, and deserves special recognition as a consequence of such effort. The Secretary shall establish procedures for the application and presentation of the award.

   Struck: (c) Business.--In this section, the term "employer" includes--

   Struck: (1)(A) a corporation, including a nonprofit corporation;

   Struck: (B) a partnership;

   Struck: (C) a professional association;

   Struck: (D) a labor organization; and

   Struck: (E) a business entity similar to an entity described in any of subparagraphs (A) through (D);

   Struck: (2) an entity carrying out an education referral program, a training program, such as an apprenticeship or management training program, or a similar program; and

   Struck: (3) an entity carrying out a joint program, formed by a combination of any entities described in paragraph (1) or (2).

   Struck: SEC. 8. COLLECTION OF PAY INFORMATION BY THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION.

   Struck: Section 709 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e-8) is amended by adding at the end the following:

   Struck: "(f)(1) Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Commission shall--

   Struck: "(A) complete a survey of the data that is currently available to the Federal Government relating to employee pay information for use in the enforcement of Federal laws prohibiting pay discrimination and, in consultation with other relevant Federal agencies, identify additional data collections that will enhance the enforcement of such laws; and

   Struck: "(B) based on the results of the survey and consultations under subparagraph (A), issue regulations to provide for the collection of pay information data from employers as described by the sex, race, and national origin of employees.

   Struck: "(2) In implementing paragraph (1), the Commission shall have as its primary consideration the most effective and efficient means for enhancing the enforcement of Federal laws prohibiting pay discrimination. For this purpose, the Commission shall consider factors including the imposition of burdens on employers, the frequency of required reports (including which employers should be required to prepare reports), appropriate protections for maintaining data confidentiality, and the most effective format for the data collection reports.".

   Struck: SEC. 9. REINSTATEMENT OF PAY EQUITY PROGRAMS AND PAY EQUITY DATA COLLECTION.

   Struck: (a) Bureau of Labor Statistics Data Collection.--The Commissioner of Labor Statistics shall continue to collect data on women workers in the Current Employment Statistics survey.

   Struck: (b) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Initiatives.-- The Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs shall ensure that employees of the Office--

   Struck: (1)(A) shall use the full range of investigatory tools at the Office's disposal, including pay grade methodology;

   Struck: (B) in considering evidence of possible compensation discrimination--

   Struck: (i) shall not limit its consideration to a small number of types of evidence; and

   Struck: (ii) shall not limit its evaluation of the evidence to a small number of methods of evaluating the evidence; and

   Struck: (C) shall not require a multiple regression analysis or anecdotal evidence for a compensation discrimination case;

   Struck: (2) for purposes of its investigative, compliance, and enforcement activities, shall define "similarly situated employees" in a way that is consistent with and not more stringent than the definition provided in item 1 of subsection A of section 10-III of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Compliance Manual (2000), and shall consider only factors that the Office's investigation reveals were used in making compensation decisions; and

   Struck: (3) shall reinstate the Equal Opportunity Survey, as required by section 60-2.18 of title 41, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on September 7, 2006), designating not less than half of all nonconstruction contractor establishments each year to prepare and file such survey, and shall review and utilize the responses to such survey to identify contractor establishments for further evaluation and for other enforcement purposes as appropriate.

   Struck: (c) Department of Labor Distribution of Wage Discrimination Information.--The Secretary of Labor shall make readily available (in print, on the Department of Labor website, and through any other forum that the Department may use to distribute compensation discrimination information), accurate information on compensation discrimination, including statistics, explanations of employee rights, historical analyses of such discrimination, instructions for employers on compliance, and any other information that will assist the public in understanding and addressing such discrimination.

   Struck: SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

   Struck: (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 to carry out this Act.

   Struck: (b) Prohibition on Earmarks.--None of the funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) for purposes of the grant program in section 5 of this Act may be used for a congressional earmark as defined in clause 9(d) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives.

   Struck: SEC. 11. SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE.

   Struck: (a) Effective Date.--This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date that is 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act.

   Struck: (b) Technical Assistance Materials.--The Secretary of Labor and the Commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shall jointly develop technical assistance material to assist small businesses in complying with the requirements of this Act and the amendments made by this Act.

   Struck: (c) Small Businesses.--A small business shall be exempt from the provisions of this Act to the same extent that such business is exempt from the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act pursuant to section 3(s)(1)(A) (i) and (ii) of such Act.

   Struck: SEC. 12. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

   Struck: Nothing in this Act, or in any amendments made by this Act, shall affect the obligation of employers and employees to fully comply with all applicable immigration laws, including any penalties, fines, or other sanctions.

   Inserted: "(2) Any employer who requires an employee to sign a contract or waiver that would prohibit the employee from disclosing information about the employee's pay shall be considered to have committed an unlawful act under subsection (a)(3)(B).

   Inserted: "(3) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the rights of an employee provided under any other provision of law.".

   Inserted: SEC. 4. CIVIL PENALTY.

   Inserted: Section 16(e) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 216(e)) is amended--

   Inserted: (1) in paragraph (2)--

   Inserted: (A) by striking "(2)" and inserting "(2)(A)"; and

   Inserted: (B) by adding at the end the following:

   Inserted: "(B) Any person who violates section 6(d) shall be subject to a civil penalty of $2,500 for each employee affected (less the amount of any penalty the person has paid under State law for the wage differential involved), in addition to any penalty that may apply under subparagraph (A)."; and

   Inserted: (2) in paragraph (3), in the first sentence, by striking "this subsection" and inserting "this subsection (other than paragraph (2)(B))".

   Inserted: SEC. 5. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.

   Inserted: Section 16 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 216) is amended by adding at the end the following:

   Inserted: "(f) An action brought under this section, alleging a violation of section 6(d), shall be brought--

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   Inserted: "(1) not later than 4 years after the date on which the alleged violation occurred; and

   Inserted: "(2) not later than 3 years after the date on which the employee involved became aware of the wage differential that is the basis for the alleged violation.".

   Inserted: SEC. 6. INFORMATION ON WAGE RATE DIFFERENTIALS.

   Inserted: The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 is amended by inserting after section 18C (29 U.S.C. 218c) the following:

   Inserted: "SEC. 218D. INFORMATION ON WAGE RATE DIFFERENTIALS.

   Inserted: "(a) In General.--Effective July 1, 2015, the Secretary of Labor may reserve a portion of the funds available under section 169 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3224), and use the portion to award grants to States that collect and disseminate information on wage rate differentials in their States.

   Inserted: "(b) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), a State shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including information demonstrating that the State has collected and disseminated on the Web site of the relevant State agency and by any other means the State may determine to be appropriate--

   Inserted: "(1) accurate information, including statistics, on differentials in the State in wage rates on the basis of sex;

   Inserted: "(2) historical analyses of differentials described in paragraph (1);

   Inserted: "(3) an explanation of employee rights related to wage rate differentials;

   Inserted: "(4) instructions for employers on compliance with laws related to wage rate differentials; and

   Inserted: "(5) any other information that will assist the public in understanding such differentials.".

   Original wording

   Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following:

Read automatically from the Congressional Record. Check the original before relying on it.

As printed