BILL NUMBER: S5828
SPONSOR: SEPULVEDA
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the labor law, in relation to prohibiting employers from
asking job applicants about salary expectations and allowing job appli-
cants to request the included benefits for the position they are apply-
ing for
 
PURPOSE:
This legislation builds on legislation barring employers from asking job
applicants their salary histories to also prohibit employers from asking
salary expectations and requiring job postings to include wage scales or
salary ranges.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: The labor law is amended by adding two new sections, 194-c
and 194-d:
Section 194-c prohibits inquiries into job applicants' salary expecta-
tions, orally or in writing; bars employers from inquiring about salary
expectations or relying on salary expectations in hiring decisions, or
in determining an employees' wages or salaries; and bars employers from
refusing to interview, hire, promote or otherwise employ any applicant
or current employee who does not provide salary expectations. Applicants
and current employees may voluntarily provide salary expectations for
the purpose of negotiating wages or salary, or for other purposes.
Applications and current and former employees may bring a cause of
action for violations of this section.
Section 194-d permits any applicant to request and be provided with
information regarding employment benefits to be included with a job the
applicant seeks with a prospective or current employer.
Section 2: Provides for the effective date
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The Salary Transparency Act will help ensure that all workers are fairly
compensated for similar work and reduce disparities based on membership
in any protected class. As union representation has declined in the
private-sector workforce, employees are increasingly left at a disadvan-
tage in negotiating on their own behalf, particularly in an economy
where job changes are more frequent. The Salary Transparency Act will
help bring parity to the negotiating table.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S.6284 of 2023-2024: Referred to Labor;
S. 7434 (2021-22): Referred to Rules, Labor
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect in 90 days.