Bill Text: NJ SJR37 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates second Tuesday in April as "Equal Pay Day."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-12-09 - Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading [SJR37 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-SJR37-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator LORETTA WEINBERG
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Designates second Tuesday in April as "Equal Pay Day."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating the second Tuesday in April of each year as "Equal Pay Day."
Whereas, More than 50 years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, women, especially minority women, continue to suffer the consequences of unequal pay; and
Whereas, According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women working full-time, year-round in 2014 typically earned 79 percent of what men earned, indicating little change or progress in pay equity; and
Whereas, According to a 2012 research report by the American Association of University Women, the gender pay gap is evident one year after college graduation, even after controlling for factors known to affect earnings, such as occupation, hours worked, and college major; and
Whereas, The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 was signed into law, making it easier for women to sue for pay discrimination; and
Whereas, According to one estimate, college-educated women working full time earn more than a half million dollars less than their male peers do over the course of a lifetime; and
Whereas, Nearly four in 10 mothers are primary breadwinners in their households, and nearly two-thirds are primary or significant earners, making pay equity critical to families' economic security; and
Whereas, A lifetime of lower pay means women have less income to save for retirement and less income counted in a Social Security or pension benefit formula; and
Whereas, Fair pay equity policies can be implemented simply and without undue costs or hardship in both the public and private sectors; and
Whereas, Fair pay strengthens the security of families today and eases future retirement costs while enhancing the American economy; and
Whereas, The second Tuesday in April represents the number of extra days a typical woman working full-time would have to work into the current year just to make the same amount of wages as a typical man did in the previous year; and
Whereas, Designating the second Tuesday in April of each year as "Equal Pay Day" will urge the citizens of New Jersey to recognize the full value of women's skills and significant contributions to the labor force, and encourage businesses to conduct an internal pay evaluation to ensure that women are being paid fairly; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The second Tuesday in April of each year is designated as "Equal Pay Day" in order to urge the citizens of New Jersey to recognize the full value of women's skills and significant contributions to the labor force and encourage businesses to conduct an internal pay evaluation to ensure that women are being paid fairly.
2. The Governor may annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials, private organizations, and all citizens and residents of this State to observe "Equal Pay Day" with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates the second Tuesday in April as "Equal Pay Day." More than 50 years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, women, especially minority women, continue to suffer the consequences of unequal pay. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women working full-time, year-round in 2014 typically earned 79 percent of what men earned, indicating little change or progress in pay equity.
Fair pay strengthens the security of families today and eases future retirement costs while enhancing the American economy. The second Tuesday in April represents the number of extra days a typical woman working full-time would have to work into the current year just to make the same amount of wages as a typical man did in the previous year. Designating the second Tuesday in April of each year as "Equal Pay Day" will urge the citizens of New Jersey to recognize the full value of women's skills and significant contributions to the labor force and encourage businesses to conduct an internal pay evaluation to ensure that women are being paid fairly.
