SENATE
HOUSE
JOINT
BILL STATUS
STATE LAW
REPORTS
EDUCATIONAL
CONTACT
home
home
Introduced Version House Bill 2535 History

   |  Email
Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
ole.gif

H. B. 2535

 

         (By Delegates Mahan, Fleischauer, Barker and

L. Phillips)

         [Introduced January 11, 2012

ole1.gif

; referred to the

         Committee on Government Organization then Finance.]

 

 

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new article, designated §5-30-1, §5-30-2, §5-30-3, §5-30-4, §5-30-5 and §5-30-6, all relating to the creation of an equal pay coordinator within the Governor’s Office to ensure pay equity among state employees; making Legislative findings; providing qualifications for the position; providing powers and duties of coordinator; providing for the development of a strategic plan to ensure pay equity in state government; authorizing other agencies to share necessary information with the coordinator; and providing rule-making authority.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new article, designated §5-30-1, §5-30-2, §5-30-3, §5-30-4, §5-30-5 and §5-30-6, all to read as follows:

ARTICLE 30. WEST VIRGINIA EQUAL PAY COORDINATOR.

§5-30-1. Legislative findings and purpose.

    The Legislature finds that despite efforts to alleviate the equal pay disparities of state workers through annual adjustments in compensation to positions reported by the West Virginia Division of Personnel, there is a further need for an Equal Pay Coordinator within the Office of the Governor to precisely evaluate, research, monitor and report on this issue and facilitate an effective and efficient strategic plan in resolving pay inequity among state employees.

§5-30-2. Equal Pay Coordinator established.

    There is hereby established an Equal Pay Coordinator (hereinafter the “coordinator”) within the Office of the Governor.

§5-30-3. Appointment; qualifications of coordinator.

    (a) The coordinator is under the supervision of the Governor’s Office, and shall be appointed by th Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The coordinator shall be qualified by training and experience to carry out the duties provided in this article.

    (b) The coordinator:

    (1) Shall serve on a full-time basis;

    (2) May not hold political office in the government of the state either by election or appointment while serving as Coordinator;

    (3) Shall be a citizen of the United States and become a resident of the state within ninety days of appointment;

    (4) Is entitled to receive an annual salary, as provided by the Governor; and

    (5) Is exempt from coverage under classified service as provided in section four, article six, chapter twenty-nine of this code.

§5-30-4. Powers and duties.

    The coordinator is charged with:

    (a) Evaluating the current status of pay inequity of state employees, including collaborating with any existing agencies or entities undertaking similar studies which will address pay inequity factors among state employees;

    (b) Researching different models designed to achieve pay equity for public employees, including initiatives and programs undertaken by other states or public entities;

    (c) Monitoring all litigation or legal actions resulting from pay inequity of state employees before state courts or administrative tribunals;

    (d) Reporting to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance annually by December 31st of each calendar year, concerning the status of pay inequity among state employees and any initiatives to resolve such inequity undertaken by executive agencies, and to provide such other information as the committee may request;

    (e) Developing a strategic plan to address pay inequity among current state employees, as well as future employees. The plan shall include:

    (1) The current status of pay inequity among state employees;

    (2) Recommendations of any necessary legislation or policies to be adopted to achieve pay equity; and

    (3) An ongoing monitoring schedule to ensure policies adopted by either the agencies affected or the Legislature are sustained; and

    (f) Making any recommendations to the Governor for legislative or administrative changes necessary to achieve pay equity among existing or for future state employees.

§5-30-5. Access to information; communication with other agencies.

    The coordinator shall have access to such other information, statistics, reports or other data, of a nonconfidential nature, compiled or maintained by other agencies regarding salaries, classifications, qualifications, skills, military service or other factors affecting employment of state employees.

    The coordinator shall make available to other agencies, including the Equal Pay Commission, any statistics, reports, data or other information of a nonconfidential nature, regarding pay inequity of state employees, upon request, which such availability would foster or improve pay inequity among state employees.

§5-30-6. Rule-making Authority.

    To implement any section of this article, the coordinator shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code. This authority shall include emergency rule-making authority pursuant to the provisions of section fifteen, article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code.


    NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create an Equal Pay Coordinator within the Office of the Governor to coordinate and monitor efforts to achieve pay equity among state employees.


    This article is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.

This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information.  |  Terms of Use  |   Email WebmasterWebmaster   |   © 2024 West Virginia Legislature **


X

Print On Demand

Name:
Email:
Phone:

Print