HB 2049 — An Act amending the act of June 2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), known as the Workers' Compensation Act, in liability and compensation, further providing for computation of benefits.

PRINTER'S NO.   2624

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 2049
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY BRENNAN, MIHALEK, O'MARA, POWELL, GIRAL, MADDEN,
        PROKOPIAK, HILL-EVANS, PROBST, McNEILL, WAXMAN, FREEMAN,
        McANDREW, DOUGHERTY, SANCHEZ, HARKINS, MALAGARI, GALLAGHER
        AND D. WILLIAMS, NOVEMBER 18, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND INDUSTRY, NOVEMBER 18, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of June 2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), entitled "An
 2      act defining the liability of an employer to pay damages for
 3      injuries received by an employe in the course of employment;
 4      establishing an elective schedule of compensation; providing
 5      procedure for the determination of liability and compensation
 6      thereunder; and prescribing penalties," in liability and
 7      compensation, further providing for computation of benefits.
 8      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 9   hereby enacts as follows:
10      Section 1.    Section 307(7) of the act of June 2, 1915
11   (P.L.736, No.338), known as the Workers' Compensation Act, is
12   amended to read:
13      Section 307.    In case of death, compensation shall be
14   computed on the following basis, and distributed to the
15   following persons: Provided, That in no case shall the wages of
16   the deceased be taken to be less than fifty per centum of the
17   Statewide average weekly wage for purposes of this section:
18      * * *
19      (7)   Whether or not there be dependents as aforesaid, the
 1   reasonable expense of burial, not exceeding [seven thousand
 2   dollars ($7,000)] twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), which shall
 3   be paid by the employer or insurer directly to the undertaker
 4   (without deduction of any amounts theretofore paid for
 5   compensation or for medical expenses). On January 1, 2027, and
 6   each January 1 thereafter, the department shall adjust the
 7   maximum burial expense to reflect the annual percentage change
 8   in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for
 9   the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland area,
10   rounded to the nearest dollar. The department shall immediately
11   submit the adjusted amount to the Legislative Reference Bureau
12   for publication as a notice in the next available issue of the
13   Pennsylvania Bulletin.
14      * * *
15      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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