ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON LABOR
ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES
ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT, ANALYSIS AND INVESTIGATION
ASSEMBLY TASK FORCE ON WOMEN'S ISSUES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The federal Equal Pay Act (EPA) was signed in 1963 when women made 59 cents on average for every dollar earned by men (based on Census figures of median wages of full-time, year-round workers). Recent surveys have found that women still only earn about 80 cents to men's dollar. This wage disparity costs the average American woman and her family an estimated $700,000 to $2 million over the course of her working life. Women are the primary wage earners in more than 1 million households in New York and in two parent households over 60 percent of working mothers earn more than a quarter of their families' income. However, on average, a full time working woman in New York is paid $40,584 annually, while a full time working man is paid $49,174 annually.

Women and minorities are often segregated into low-paying occupations. Studies show that the more an occupation is dominated by women or other minorities, the less it pays. Many believe that Pay Equity or compensation based on comparable worth - evaluating and compensating jobs based on its skill, effort, responsibility and working conditions and not on the people who hold the jobs - is a solution to eliminating wage discrimination and closing the wage gap.

In 1985 New York State undertook a study to determine pay inequity for jobs held by State workers and subsequently the Executive took administrative action to eliminate inequities. Other state and local governments have made similar efforts. There are several legislative initiatives to address pay equity concerns in both public and private sector workplaces in New York. The Committees are seeking comment on the problem of pay inequity in New York, the response of State government, pay equity legislation and other potential solutions.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committees at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes' duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committees will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committees would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committees' interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

I plan to attend the following public hearing on Pay Equity in the State of New York to be conducted by the Assembly Committees on Labor, Governmental Employees, Governmental Operations, Oversight, Analysis and Investigations, and the Task Force on Women's Issues on December 12, 2011.

I plan to make a public statement at the hearing. My statement will be limited to 10 minutes, and I will answer any questions which may arise. I will provide 10 copies of my prepared statement.

I will address my remarks to the following subjects:

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I do not plan to attend the above hearing.

I would like to be added to the Committees' mailing list for notices and reports.

I would like to be removed from the Committees' mailing list.

I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required:

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