BILL NUMBER:  AB 2317
  VETOED	DATE: 09/29/2004




To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 2317 without my signature.

While I am supportive of reasonable efforts to eradicate the
historical trend of women earning less than men for doing the same
work, I do not believe the provisions of AB 2317 are necessary in
order to achieve this goal.

Current state and federal laws forbid and provide civil and criminal
penalties for an employer that pays discriminatory wage rates to
employees on account of gender.  The civil penalty for violation of
the equal pay requirement was doubled just last year.  In addition,
SB 1809, which I recently signed into law, classifies the violation
of equal pay requirements as one of the more serious labor law
violations for which an employee can bring a private civil action.
We need to allow these new law s time to work before considering
additional penalties.

For these reasons I am unable to sign this measure.

Sincerely,



Arnold Schwarzenegger