New Mexico Pay Equity Initiative - Background
In On January 28, 2009, Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico issued Executive Order 2009-004 - Fair and Equal Pay for All New Mexicans Initiative The Executive Order formally declared that it is the policy of the State of New Mexico to identify and combat pay inequity and job segregation, and established the Governor's Task Force on Fair and Equal Pay ("Task Force").
Specific charges to the Task Force included (1) research and specific recommendations for legislative, regulatory, and other initiatives to close or eliminate gaps in pay and job segregation in the New Mexico classified workforce; (2) research and reporting on methods and procedures for requiring entities holding contracts with the State to study and remedy pay equity and job segregation within their businesses, and timelines for implementation; and (3) present recommendations to the Governor in September 2009.
The Task Force report can be viewed by clicking on the following link: Pay Equity Report. Specific recommendations included issuance of a new Executive Order establishing a system first for reporting on gender pay gaps and job segregation, and then for incentivizing the elimination of gender pay gaps and job segregation on the part of state contractors in the state of New Mexico, with appropriate timelines and appropriate accommodations for small business.
Executive Order 2009-049, signed by Governor Richardson in December, 2009, instituted specific gender pay equity reporting requirements for all contractors, including approved vendors and entities with price agreements with the State of New Mexico beginning July 1, 2010. The Executive Order also instituted a process for development of the Implementation Guidance which can be viewed by clicking on the following link: E.O. 2009-049 Implementation Guidance.