Labor & Employment

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 28, 2025

SB 361: An Act providing for duties of public employers relating to public employee information.

SB 361 requires public employers in Pennsylvania to provide employee representatives with specific public employee information, including names, contact details, job titles, and salary data. This applies to all public employees (excluding elected officials, management, and certain religious staff) and must be shared electronically every 120 days or within 21 days for new hires. Employee organizations may only use this information for representation purposes, such as collective bargaining, and cannot sell or share it otherwise. The bill aims to improve transparency in labor relations while giving employee groups access to necessary data for their roles.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires public employers to share employee data with representatives for collective bargaining, directly advancing workers' right to organize and negotiate.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Public Employees

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 2, 2025

SB 113: An Act providing for guidelines and procedures governing certain investigations and interrogations of correctional and forensic employees; authorizing certain civil suits by correctional officers; and providing for impact of collective bargaining agreements and for summary suspensions.

SB 113 establishes new rules for investigating misconduct by Pennsylvania correctional and forensic employees (e.g., prison staff, forensic facility workers). It requires recorded interrogations, informs employees of their right to legal counsel, prohibits using polygraph tests or threatening job loss to compel statements, and mandates paid suspensions during investigations unless criminal charges are filed. The bill ensures union contracts cannot weaken these protections and prohibits retaliation against employees exercising these rights. It also clarifies that investigations must follow specific procedures to protect employee rights during disciplinary processes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes procedural safeguards for correctional staff during investigations, protecting rights and preventing retaliation, aligning with corrections reform.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill protects correctional employees' rights during investigations: requires recorded interrogations, right to counsel, paid suspensions, prohibits retaliation, and ensures union contracts cannot weaken protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Collective Bargaining

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 678: An Act providing for the registration of labor brokers; imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry and the Secretary of Labor and Industry; establishing the Labor Broker Registration Account; and imposing penalties.

HB 678 requires labor brokers who supply construction workers to employers in Pennsylvania to register with the Department of Labor and Industry. It mandates brokers to pay fees, maintain registration validity, verify worker placements, and report changes, with the Department establishing a dedicated registration account for these fees. The bill imposes penalties for operating without registration or violating its requirements, directly affecting labor brokers in the construction industry. Key provisions include a verification system for worker placements, annual renewal of registration, and specific definitions clarifying which entities qualify as labor brokers versus subcontractors. This legislation aims to increase oversight of labor brokers handling construction workers, with penalties for noncompliance.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRegulates labor brokers via registration, fees, and penalties to ensure proper worker placement and prevent exploitation, indirectly protecting workers' rights in employment.85% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 17, 2025

HB 933: An Act amending the act of October 13, 2010 (P.L.506, No.72), known as the Construction Workplace Misclassification Act, further providing for improper classification of employees, for administrative penalties, for stop-work orders, for certain agreement prohibited and for use of penalty funds.

HB 933 increases penalties for construction employers who misclassify workers as independent contractors, raising fines to $2,500 for a first violation and $5,000 for subsequent violations. It expands accountability to include general contractors and other parties who knowingly contract with employers that misclassify workers, subjecting them to the same penalties. The bill also adds a three-year ban on public contracts for intentional violators and clarifies that stop-work orders can require construction to halt within 24 hours for intentional misclassification, applying to successor businesses.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases penalties for misclassifying workers as contractors, expands accountability to contractors, and bans violators from public contracts - strengthening worker protections against wage theft and benefit denial.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 1163: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Commonwealth services, providing for work-related hazardous duty.

HB 1163 creates a legal presumption that certain frontline workers contracted infectious diseases (like COVID-19) on the job during a declared public health emergency. It directly affects employees in life-sustaining roles - such as healthcare workers, first responders, grocery staff, food service workers, and public utility employees - who are required to work during emergencies. The bill ensures these workers cannot be forced to use paid leave for illness, automatically qualifies them for unemployment compensation, and makes them eligible for workers' compensation covering all related medical costs. This applies during any Governor-declared emergency for infectious diseases posing significant public health risks.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects healthcare workers by creating legal presumption for work-related illness during emergencies, ensuring automatic benefits without forced paid leave use.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates legal presumption for work-related illness, prevents forced paid leave use, ensures automatic benefits - directly strengthens worker protections during public health emergencies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Unemployment Workers' Compensation Workplace Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 9, 2025

SB 602: An Act providing for the registration of labor brokers; imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry and the Secretary of Labor and Industry; establishing the Labor Broker Registration Account; and imposing penalties.

SB 602 requires labor brokers in Pennsylvania to register with the Department of Labor and Industry before supplying construction workers to employers. It directly affects entities that recruit and place workers for construction projects, excluding certain subcontractors who meet specific criteria. The bill establishes a public verification system on the department’s website showing registered brokers’ details, mandates registration numbers in contracts and ads, and imposes penalties for operating without registration. Key provisions include application requirements, annual fees, and enforcement mechanisms like fines or suspension for violations. The law aims to increase transparency and accountability in the labor brokerage industry.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires labor broker registration with verification system to prevent exploitation, aligning with worker protection indicators.85% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 9, 2025

SB 587: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in tax credit and tax benefit administration, further providing for determination of eligibility and method of submission.

SB 587 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to require that applicants for tax credits or benefits must not have committed "anti-union activity" in the past 10 years. The bill directly affects businesses or individuals seeking state tax credits by adding a new eligibility check. Key provisions define "anti-union activity" to include recent National Labor Relations Board complaints, settlements related to labor violations, or breaches of Pennsylvania's Labor Relations Act. Tax authorities must verify this eligibility before awarding credits, with specific examples provided in the bill. This change takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill disqualifies tax credit applicants with 'anti-union activity', directly protecting workers' rights and collective bargaining by penalizing anti-union conduct.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 11, 2025

SB 621: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, prohibiting tax deductions for anti-union activities.

SB 621 prohibits Pennsylvania businesses from deducting taxes for expenses related to opposing unionization efforts. It specifically blocks deductions for costs tied to National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) complaints, anti-union meetings with employees, or labor law violations. The law applies to corporations and business entities operating in Pennsylvania, including foreign companies. Exceptions allow deductions for legitimate communications with union representatives or shareholders. This changes tax treatment for anti-union activities without altering labor law.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRestricts tax deductions for anti-union activities, eliminating a tax benefit for businesses opposing unions, directly limiting tax deductions under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits tax deductions for anti-union activities (NLRB complaints, anti-union meetings), directly supporting workers' collective bargaining rights by increasing costs for union opposition.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 11, 2025

HB 854: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in collective bargaining, providing for conflicts of interest.

HB 854 requires school board members to recuse themselves from voting on collective bargaining agreements if their spouse, romantic partner, or household member is part of the bargaining unit covered by that agreement. The bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to establish this conflict-of-interest rule, directly affecting school board members during contract negotiations. Key provisions mandate automatic recusal for board members with personal ties to the employees covered by the agreement being voted on. The rule takes effect 60 days after enactment, aiming to prevent potential bias in negotiations.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates recusal of school board members with personal ties to bargaining units, ensuring fair collective bargaining. This protects the integrity of the process, supporting workers' collective bargaining rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 3, 2025

HB 781: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in general powers and duties of the Department of Public Welfare, providing for infant and toddler care professionals salary supplement; and promulgating regulations.

HB 781 creates a three-year pilot program to provide salary supplements for infant and toddler care professionals working at eligible child-care centers in Pennsylvania. The Department of Public Welfare will administer the program, establishing county-level pay parity standards that consider education and certification levels to prevent staff retention issues. Child-care centers receiving funds must use them exclusively for wage supplements and cannot reduce existing pay or replace staff costs. The program requires annual reporting to the General Assembly and expires after three fiscal years beginning in 2026-2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state budget funds for salary supplements to child-care professionals, creating a new funding stream under Public Welfare Department's administration.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides salary supplements for infant/toddler care professionals, directly supporting early childhood educators' compensation and retention within the education sector.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides salary supplements for childcare workers to prevent retention issues, directly advancing wage standards and workforce stability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Professional Licensing

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