HB 98 Pennsylvania House · 2023-2024 Regular Session

An Act amending the act of December 17, 1959 (P.L.1913, No.694), known as the Equal Pay Law, further providing for definitions and for wage rates; providing for additional violations; further providing for powers of secretary, for collection of unpaid wages, for records and reporting and for penalties; and establishing the Equal Pay Enforcement Fund.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Equal Pay Law to broaden protections against wage discrimination based on sex, race, or ethnicity by expanding the definition of comparable work to include similar working conditions such as exposure to hazards or extreme temperatures. It explicitly prohibits employers from asking job applicants about their prior salary history or requiring them to refrain from discussing their own or others' wages, while still allowing employers to consider voluntarily provided wage information if it supports a higher offer. The legislation also clarifies that job titles alone cannot determine if two roles are comparable and restricts the use of factors like seniority or merit systems if they result in illegal pay gaps without legitimate business justification. Additionally, the bill establishes an Equal Pay Enforcement Fund to support the collection of unpaid wages and outlines specific penalties for violations of these updated rules.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2023
Committee Review
May 2024
House Passage
May 2024
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 7, 2023 Last action May 21, 2024
Floor votes · House May 6, 2024

How they voted

102–99
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 202
May 6, 2024
D Democratic102
102 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican100
99 Nay 1
99% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
10
Key actions
3
Committee
4
Amendments
1
May 21, 2024
Committee
Referred to Labor & Industry
upper
May 6, 2024
Lower · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
lower
May 6, 2024
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as committed
lower
May 1, 2024
Committee
Re-committed to Appropriations
lower
Mar 27, 2024
Lower · Passed
Reported as amended
lower
Mar 7, 2023
Committee
Referred to Labor & Industry
lower
1 primary · 29 co-sponsors

Sponsors