A BILL BEING PROPOSED THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION WOULD PROVIDE MORE PROTECTIONS AGAINST GENDER-BASED WAGE DISCRIMINATION IN NEW MEXICO. SANTA FE STATE REP BRIAN EGOLF SAYS THE BILL IS PATTERNED AFTER A 2009 FEDERAL PAY EQUITY LAW.

IF APPROVED, WORKERS WOULD BE ABLE TO SETTLE CASES IN STATE COURT INSTEAD OF FEDERAL COURT ... AND COULD GET PUNITIVE DAMAGES AND UNPAID WAGES FROM THE DATE OF THE VIOLATION TO WHEN THE LAWSUIT IS FILED. EGOLF ALSO SAYS THE MEASURE WOULD MAKE SURE WOMEN ARE PAID THE SAME AS MEN FOR EQUAL WORK.