It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Title 42 of the general laws entitled "State Affairs and Government" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

{ADD 42-124-1. Establishment of commission. -- ADD} {ADD There is hereby created a special legislative commission on equal pay and Comparable worth in public and private employment consisting of twenty-five (25) members: four (4) of whom shall be from the House of Representatives, not more than three (3) from the same political party; one (1) of whom shall have served on the 1986 Comparable Worth/Pay Equity Commission, to be appointed by the Speaker; four (4) of whom shall be from the Senate, not more than three (3) from the same political party; one (1) of whom shall have served on the 1986 Comparable Worth/Pay Equity Commission to be appointed by the Majority Leader; two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the Governor; one (1) of whom shall be the Human Resources Director of the Department of Administration; one (1) of whom shall be the Human Resources Program Administrator; one (1) of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Commission on Women, or his/her appointee; one (1) of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Human Rights Commission, or his/her appointee; one (1) of whom shall be the Chair or Co-Chair of the Economic Equity Committee of the Rhode Island Commission on Women, or his/her appointee; one (1) of whom shall be the Director of Labor, or his/her appointee; one (1) of whom shall be the Executive Director of the AFL-CIO, or his/her appointee; one (1) of whom shall be the Executive Director of AFSCME, or his/her appointee; one (1) of whom shall be the State Equal Opportunity Administrator; one (1) of whom shall be from the Chamber of Commerce Federation; one (1) of whom shall be from the Workforce 2000 Council; one (1) of whom shall be the Executive Director of the League of Cities and Towns, or his/her appointee; one (1) of whom shall be the Director of Research, Department of Business and Economics at the University of Rhode Island; one (1) of whom shall be a representative from NEARI, appointed by the president of the association; and one (1) of whom shall be a representative from AFT/AFL-CIO, appointed by the president of the association. The composition of this commission shall endeavor, as far as practicable, to provide diverse ethnic, cultural and gender representation of the state of Rhode Island. ADD}

{ADD 42-124-2. Purpose. -- ADD} {ADD The purpose of the commission shall be to study and to assess the subject of comparable Worth/Pay Equity in public and private employment in the state of Rhode Island. Rhode Island recognizes the generally acceptable pay equity policies which guarantee that people will receive the same salary for comparable worth. This study shall determine whether there is evidence to suggest that the female dominated class of employees are under compensated in comparison to the male dominated class of employees where the composite value of skill effort, responsibility, interpersonal skills, accountability and working conditions are comparable.

The commission shall report its findings and recommendations with respect to state government employment to the general assembly on or before June 30, 1994 and annually thereafter, and shall report its findings and recommendations with respect to municipal government and private sector employment on or before February 10, 1996, and annually thereafter. ADD}

{ADD 42-124-3. Organization and terms. -- ADD} {ADD Forthwith upon the passage of this act, the members of the commission shall meet at the call of the speaker of the house and organize and shall select from among its members a chairperson.

Legislative appointments shall continue for the elected term and terminate upon non-election. All other appointments shall be for three (3) years on a staggered basis. Initial terms shall be determined by lot at the first meeting. Vacancies in the commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. ADD}

{ADD 42-124-4. Cooperation. -- ADD} {ADD All departments, boards and agencies of the state shall cooperate with said commission and forthwith furnish such advice and information, documentary and otherwise as may be necessary or desirable to facilitate the purposes of this chapter.

The speaker of the house is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters for the commission. ADD}

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.