A. A person claiming to be aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice in violation of the Fair Pay for Women Act may:

(1) maintain an action to establish liability and recover damages and injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction by any one or more employees on behalf of the employee or employees or on behalf of other employees similarly situated; or

(2) seek relief under the Human Rights Act [Chapter 28, Article 1 NMSA 1978] pursuant to the process set out in Sections 28-1-10 through 28-1-13 NMSA 1978.

B. The court in any action brought under this section shall, in addition to any judgment awarded to the plaintiff or plaintiffs, allow costs of the action and reasonable attorney fees to be paid by the defendant. In any proceedings brought pursuant to the provisions of this section, the employee shall not be required to pay any filing fee or other court costs necessarily incurred in such proceedings.

C. The court in any action brought under this section may order appropriate injunctive relief, including requiring an employer to post in the place of business a notice describing violations by the employer as found by the court or a copy of a cease and desist order applicable to the employer.

D. An action arising under the Fair Pay for Women Act shall be brought no later than two years from the last date of the employee's employment.

E. A person claiming to be aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice in violation of the Fair Pay for Women Act need not exhaust state administrative remedies.

F. The initiation of an administrative process under the Human Rights Act pursuant to the process set out in Sections 28-1-10 through 28-1-13 NMSA 1978 shall toll the statute of limitations for initiating a claim under the Fair Pay for Women Act.

History: Laws 2013, ch. 12, § 4.

Effective dates. — Laws 2013, ch. 12 contained no effective date provision, but, pursuant to N.M. Const., art. IV, § 23, was effective June 14, 2013, 90 days after the adjournment of the legislature.