Bill > HB914

This bill amends Georgia's labor laws to expand the Commissioner of Labor's authority in addressing pay discrimination. Specifically, the bill empowers the Commissioner to proactively ensure employees receive comparable pay for comparable work across jobs requiring similar skill, effort, and responsibility, rather than merely assisting employers. The bill introduces new enforcement mechanisms, including the ability to review employer operations, question employers and employees, and issue administrative orders with potential financial penalties up to $1,000 per violation. The Commissioner can now use written consent orders and, if informal methods fail to resolve pay discrepancies, can issue formal administrative orders requiring corrective action. Employers who fail to comply can be subject to hearings, and individuals can seek judicial review of the Commissioner's final orders. The bill also updates gender-specific language, replacing "his" with "his or her" throughout the text, and provides a structured process for addressing potential pay discrimination that gives the Commissioner more direct intervention powers. These changes aim to strengthen protections against wage inequity and provide a clearer pathway for addressing pay disparities.

Labor and Employment

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72005