MN HF2373

State departments and agencies cannot execute contracts exceeding $500,000 with businesses having 50 or more full-time employees unless the business obtains an equal pay certificate of compliance.

Businesses must submit a statement certifying compliance with equal pay laws, including that compensation policies are not based on sex, job classifications are not sex-restricted, and female employee compensation is not consistently below male employee compensation within job categories.

Commissioner of Human Rights issues certificates for a $150 fee within 15 days of application, valid for four years; commissioner may audit compliance and void contracts or revoke certificates for non-compliance.

Businesses must provide audit data including employee counts by gender, salary information by gender, benefits data, and length of service information for each major job category.

Commissioner must report to the governor and legislature by January 31, 2016, on certificates issued, audits conducted, and auditing efforts; exemption applies to Department of Human Services health care contracts; effective date is August 1, 2014.