People who believe they're highly paid might find it advantageous to disclose that: they'd avoid an accidental lowball, companies that can't afford them, etc. So there should be three types of people: (1) those who disclose and are highly paid, (2) those who disclose and think they're highly paid but aren't, and (3) those who don't disclose.
If being in group 1 is advantageous, then not disclosing (group 3) could be taken as a signal that the person thinks their salary is low and doesn't want to be anchored--but isn't that the information this law is supposed to be hiding? Even though they haven't named a price, it's still a signal that they might accept an offer under market.
On the other hand, that makes it harder for employers to calculate an offer that's more than they're making but still under market. And the gap should shrink with every job change, in theory.
Is there any data (maybe from other states) on how the game theory shakes out here?
Edit: another provision makes it more complicated.
> (c) An employer, upon reasonable request, shall provide the pay scale for a position to an applicant applying for employment.