TO CREATE THE "EQUAL PAY STUDY COMMITTEE," TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE STUDY COMMITTEE, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE STUDY COMMITTEE'S TERMINATION.

Whereas, recent studies have illustrated that women are paid seventy-seven percent of what men are paid; and

Whereas, these studies also have illustrated that the average woman in South Carolina only earns seventy-eight percent of what a male in South Carolina earns; and

Whereas, women of color are subject to an even wider pay gap, with African-American women earning sixty-four cents on the dollar compared to men; and

Whereas, it is fitting and proper for the State of South Carolina to explore and study the wages of state employees to ensure that no wage discrimination occurs within any branch of the government of South Carolina. Now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    (A)    There is created the "Equal Pay Study Committee." The study committee shall review information, including, but not limited to, statistics and other information available regarding the job position, salary, race, and gender of all state employees.

(B)    The study committee must be composed of three members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House, three members of the Senate appointed by the Speaker Pro Tempore of the Senate, and one member appointed by the Governor. At least one member from both the House of Representatives and the Senate shall be selected upon recommendation of the Minority Leader of the respective body.

(C)    The Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall provide staffing for the study committee.

(D)    The study committee shall make a report of the committee's recommendations to the General Assembly by January 31, 2016, at which time the study committee must be dissolved.

SECTION    2.    This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor.