HB 2355 — An Act amending the act of October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, further providing for procedure.

PRINTER'S NO.   3124

                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                          HOUSE BILL
                          No. 2355
                                                Session of
                                                  2026

     INTRODUCED BY MAYES, KHAN, SANCHEZ, HILL-EVANS, RIVERA, BRENNAN,
        WAXMAN, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ AND BOYD, MARCH 31, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT,
        MARCH 31, 2026


                                     AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), entitled
 2      "An act prohibiting certain practices of discrimination
 3      because of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age or
 4      national origin by employers, employment agencies, labor
 5      organizations and others as herein defined; creating the
 6      Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission in the Governor's
 7      Office; defining its functions, powers and duties; providing
 8      for procedure and enforcement; providing for formulation of
 9      an educational program to prevent prejudice; providing for
10      judicial review and enforcement and imposing penalties,"
11      further providing for procedure.
12      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
13   hereby enacts as follows:
14      Section 1.     Section 9(f)(2) and (h) of the act of October 27,
15   1955 (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania Human
16   Relations Act, are amended and subsection (f) is amended by
17   adding a paragraph to read:
18      Section 9.     Procedure.--* * *
19      (f)   * * *
20      (2)   Such order may also assess a civil penalty against the
21   respondent in a complaint of discrimination filed under sections
22   5(h) or 5.3:
 1      (i)    in an amount not exceeding [ten thousand dollars
 2   ($10,000)] twenty-six thousand two hundred sixty-two dollars
 3   ($26,262) if the respondent has not been adjudged to have
 4   committed any prior discriminatory practice;
 5      (ii)    in an amount not exceeding [twenty-five thousand
 6   dollars ($25,000)] sixty-five thousand six hundred fifty-three
 7   dollars ($65,653) if the respondent has been adjudged to have
 8   committed one other discriminatory practice during the five-year
 9   period ending on the date of this order; or
10      (iii)   in an amount not exceeding [fifty thousand dollars
11   ($50,000)] one hundred thirty-one thousand three hundred eight
12   dollars ($131,308) if the respondent has been adjudged to have
13   committed more than one other discriminatory practice during the
14   seven-year period ending on the date of this order.
15   If, however, the acts constituting the discriminatory practice
16   that is the object of the charge are committed by the same
17   natural person who has been previously adjudged to have
18   committed acts constituting a discriminatory practice, then the
19   civil penalties set forth in subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) may be
20   imposed without regard to the period of time within which any
21   subsequent discriminatory practice occurred.
22      (2.1)   Beginning in fiscal year 2026-2027 and each fiscal
23   year thereafter, the Commission shall determine the percentage
24   change between the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers:
25   All Items (CPI-U) for the United States City Average, as
26   published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of
27   Labor Statistics, for October preceding the date of adjustment
28   and the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items
29   (CPI-U) for the United States City Average for October of the
30   prior year. If the percentage change is positive, the Commission

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 1   shall adjust the civil penalties under paragraph (2)(i), (ii)
 2   and (iii) accordingly. The adjusted civil penalty amounts shall
 3   take effect July 1 of each fiscal year. The Commission shall
 4   transmit notice of the adjusted civil penalty amounts to the
 5   Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the next
 6   available issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
 7      * * *
 8      (h)   Any complaint filed pursuant to this section must be so
 9   filed within [one hundred eighty] three hundred sixty-five days
10   after the alleged act of discrimination, unless otherwise
11   required by the Fair Housing Act.
12      * * *
13      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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