SB 150 — An Act amending the act of October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, further providing for title of the act, for findings and declaration of policy, for right to freedom from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodation, for definitions, for unlawful discriminatory practices and for prohibition of certain real estate practices; providing for protection of religious exercise; and further providing for powers and duties of the commission, for educational program and for construction and exclusiveness of remedy.

PRINTER'S NO.   874

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        SENATE BILL
                        No. 150
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY SANTARSIERO, SAVAL, MUTH, KEARNEY, HAYWOOD,
        TARTAGLIONE, BOSCOLA, COLLETT, COSTA, L. WILLIAMS, HUGHES,
        CAPPELLETTI, COMITTA, SCHWANK AND FONTANA, JUNE 3, 2025

     REFERRED TO LABOR AND INDUSTRY, JUNE 3, 2025


                                    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 title of the act, for findings and
12      declaration of policy, for right to freedom from
13      discrimination in employment, housing and public
14      accommodation, for definitions, for unlawful discriminatory
15      practices and for prohibition of certain real estate
16      practices; providing for protection of religious exercise;
17      and further providing for powers and duties of the
18      commission, for educational program and for construction and
19      exclusiveness of remedy.
20      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
21   hereby enacts as follows:
22      Section 1.    The title and sections 2 and 3 of the act of
23   October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania
24   Human Relations Act, are amended to read:
25                                  AN ACT
26   Prohibiting certain practices of discrimination because of race,
 1      color, religious creed, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation,
 2      gender identity or expression, age or national origin by
 3      employers, employment agencies, labor organizations and
 4      others as herein defined; creating the Pennsylvania Human
 5      Relations Commission in the Governor's Office; defining its
 6      functions, powers and duties; providing for procedure and
 7      enforcement; providing for formulation of an educational
 8      program to prevent prejudice; providing for judicial review
 9      and enforcement and imposing penalties.
10      Section 2.   Findings and Declaration of Policy.--
11      (a)   The practice or policy of discrimination against
12   individuals or groups by reason of their race, color, familial
13   status, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation,
14   gender identity or expression, national origin, handicap or
15   disability, use of guide or support animals because of the
16   blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user or because
17   the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals is
18   a matter of concern of the Commonwealth. Such discrimination
19   foments domestic strife and unrest, threatens the rights and
20   privileges of the inhabitants of the Commonwealth, and
21   undermines the foundations of a free democratic state. The
22   denial of equal employment, housing and public accommodation
23   opportunities because of such discrimination, and the consequent
24   failure to utilize the productive capacities of individuals to
25   their fullest extent, deprives large segments of the population
26   of the Commonwealth of earnings necessary to maintain decent
27   standards of living, necessitates their resort to public relief
28   and intensifies group conflicts, thereby resulting in grave
29   injury to the public health and welfare, compels many
30   individuals to live in dwellings which are substandard,

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 1   unhealthful and overcrowded, resulting in racial segregation in
 2   public schools and other community facilities, juvenile
 3   delinquency and other evils, thereby threatening the peace,
 4   health, safety and general welfare of the Commonwealth and its
 5   inhabitants. Public policies, reflecting an open and welcoming
 6   environment and ensuring equal opportunity, foster economic
 7   growth and prosperity which benefit the inhabitants of this
 8   Commonwealth. Conversely, the absence of nondiscrimination
 9   protections hinder efforts to recruit and retain the diversity
10   of talented individuals and successful enterprises required for
11   a thriving economy and strong public sector on which the
12   inhabitants of this Commonwealth depend.
13      (b)   It is hereby declared to be the public policy of this
14   Commonwealth to foster the employment of all individuals in
15   accordance with their fullest capacities regardless of their
16   race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, sexual
17   orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin,
18   handicap or disability, use of guide or support animals because
19   of the blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user or
20   because the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide
21   animals, and to safeguard their right to obtain and hold
22   employment without such discrimination, to assure equal
23   opportunities to all individuals and to safeguard their rights
24   to public accommodation and to secure housing accommodation and
25   commercial property regardless of race, color, familial status,
26   religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender
27   identity or expression, national origin, handicap or disability,
28   use of guide or support animals because of blindness or deafness
29   of the user or because the user is a handler or trainer of guide
30   or support animals.

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 1      (c)   This act shall be deemed an exercise of the police power
 2   of the Commonwealth for the protection of the public welfare,
 3   prosperity, health and peace of the people of the Commonwealth
 4   of Pennsylvania.
 5      Section 3.   Right to Freedom from Discrimination in
 6   Employment, Housing and Public Accommodation.--The opportunity
 7   for an individual to obtain employment for which he is
 8   qualified, and to obtain all the accommodations, advantages,
 9   facilities and privileges of any public accommodation and of any
10   housing accommodation and commercial property without
11   discrimination because of race, color, familial status,
12   religious creed, ancestry, handicap or disability, age, sex,
13   sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national
14   origin, the use of a guide or support animal because of the
15   blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user or because
16   the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals is
17   hereby recognized as and declared to be a civil right which
18   shall be enforceable as set forth in this act.
19      Section 2.   Section 4(b) of the act is amended and the
20   section is amended by adding subsections to read:
21      Section 4.   Definitions.--As used in this act unless a
22   different meaning clearly appears from the context:
23      * * *
24      (b)   The term "employer" includes the Commonwealth or any
25   political subdivision or board, department, commission or school
26   district thereof and any person employing four or more persons
27   within the Commonwealth, but except as hereinafter provided,
28   does not include religious, fraternal, charitable or sectarian
29   corporations or associations, except such corporations or
30   associations supported, in whole or in part, by governmental

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 1   appropriations. The term "employer" with respect to
 2   discriminatory practices based on race, color, age, sex, sexual
 3   orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or
 4   non-job related handicap or disability, includes religious,
 5   fraternal, charitable and sectarian corporations and
 6   associations employing four or more persons within the
 7   Commonwealth.
 8      * * *
 9      (bb)    The term "sexual orientation" means an individual's
10   physical, romantic or emotional attraction to individuals of the
11   same or different gender.
12      (cc)    The term "gender identity or expression" means an
13   individual's gender-related identity, appearance, mannerisms,
14   expression or other gender-related characteristics regardless of
15   the individual's designated or perceived sex.
16      Section 3.   Sections 5(a), (b), (c), (f), (g), (h) and (i)
17   and 5.3 of the act are amended to read:
18      Section 5.   Unlawful Discriminatory Practices.--It shall be
19   an unlawful discriminatory practice, unless based upon a bona
20   fide occupational qualification, or in the case of a fraternal
21   corporation or association, unless based upon membership in such
22   association or corporation, or except where based upon
23   applicable security regulations established by the United States
24   or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:
25      (a)    For any employer because of the actual or perceived
26   race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, sexual
27   orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or
28   non-job related handicap or disability or the use of a guide or
29   support animal because of the blindness, deafness or physical
30   handicap of any individual or independent contractor, to refuse

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 1   to hire or employ or contract with, or to bar or to discharge
 2   from employment such individual or independent contractor, or to
 3   otherwise discriminate against such individual or independent
 4   contractor with respect to compensation, hire, tenure, terms,
 5   conditions or privileges of employment or contract, if the
 6   individual or independent contractor is the best able and most
 7   competent to perform the services required. The [provision]
 8   provisions of this paragraph shall not apply, to (1) operation
 9   of the terms or conditions of any bona fide retirement or
10   pension plan which have the effect of a minimum service
11   requirement, (2) operation of the terms or conditions of any
12   bona fide group or employe insurance plan, (3) age limitations
13   placed upon entry into bona fide apprenticeship programs of two
14   years or more approved by the State Apprenticeship and Training
15   Council of the Department of Labor and Industry, established by
16   the act of July 14, 1961 (P.L.604, No.304), known as "The
17   Apprenticeship and Training Act." Notwithstanding any provision
18   of this clause, it shall not be an unlawful employment practice
19   for a religious corporation or association to hire or employ on
20   the basis of sex in those certain instances where sex is a bona
21   fide occupational qualification because of the religious
22   beliefs, practices, or observances of the corporation, or
23   association. Except as otherwise required by law, it is not an
24   unlawful discriminatory practice based on the actual or
25   perceived race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, sexual
26   orientation, gender identity or expression or national origin
27   under this act to fail or refuse to construct new or additional
28   facilities.
29      (b)   For any employer, employment agency or labor
30   organization, prior to the employment, contracting with an

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 1   independent contractor or admission to membership, to:
 2      (1)   Elicit any information or make or keep a record of or
 3   use any form of application or application blank containing
 4   questions or entries concerning the race, color, religious
 5   creed, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity
 6   or expression, national origin, past handicap or disability or
 7   the use of a guide or support animal because of the blindness,
 8   deafness or physical handicap of any applicant for employment or
 9   membership. Prior to an offer of employment, an employer may not
10   inquire as to whether an individual has a handicap or disability
11   or as to the severity of such handicap or disability. An
12   employer may inquire as to the individual's ability to perform
13   the essential functions of the employment.
14      (2)   Print or publish or cause to be printed or published any
15   notice or advertisement relating to employment or membership
16   indicating any preference, limitation, specification or
17   discrimination based upon race, color, religious creed,
18   ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or
19   expression, national origin, non-job related handicap or
20   disability or the use of a guide or support animal because of
21   the blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user.
22      (3)   Deny or limit, through a quota system, employment or
23   membership because of the actual or perceived race, color,
24   religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender
25   identity or expression, national origin, non-job related
26   handicap or disability, the use of a guide or support animal
27   because of the blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the
28   user or place of birth.
29      (4)   Substantially confine or limit recruitment or hiring of
30   individuals, with intent to circumvent the spirit and purpose of

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 1   this act, to any employment agency, employment service, labor
 2   organization, training school or training center or any other
 3   employe-referring source which services individuals who are
 4   predominantly of the same race, color, religious creed,
 5   ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or
 6   expression, national origin or non-job related handicap or
 7   disability.
 8      (5)   Deny employment because of a prior handicap or
 9   disability.
10      Nothing in clause (b) of this section shall bar any
11   institution or organization for handicapped or disabled persons
12   from limiting or giving preference in employment or membership
13   to handicapped or disabled persons.
14      (c)   For any labor organization because of the actual or
15   perceived race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex,
16   sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national
17   origin, non-job related handicap or disability or the use of a
18   guide or support animal because of the blindness, deafness or
19   physical handicap of any individual to deny full and equal
20   membership rights to any individual or otherwise to discriminate
21   against such individuals with respect to hire, tenure, terms,
22   conditions or privileges of employment or any other matter,
23   directly or indirectly, related to employment.
24      * * *
25      (f)   For any employment agency to fail or refuse to classify
26   properly, refer for employment or otherwise to discriminate
27   against any individual because of [his] the actual or perceived
28   race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, sexual
29   orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin,
30   non-job related handicap or disability or the use of a guide or

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 1   support animal because of the blindness, deafness or physical
 2   handicap of the user.
 3      (g)   For any individual seeking employment to publish or
 4   cause to be published any advertisement which in any manner
 5   expresses a limitation or preference as to the race, color,
 6   religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender
 7   identity or expression, national origin, non-job related
 8   handicap or disability or the use of a guide or support animal
 9   because of the blindness, deafness or physical handicap of any
10   prospective employer.
11      (h)   For any person to:
12      (1)   Refuse to sell, lease, finance or otherwise to deny or
13   withhold any housing accommodation or commercial property from
14   any person because of the actual or perceived race, color,
15   familial status, age, religious creed, ancestry, sex, sexual
16   orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or
17   handicap or disability of any person, prospective owner,
18   occupant or user of such housing accommodation or commercial
19   property, or to refuse to lease any housing accommodation or
20   commercial property to any person due to use of a guide animal
21   because of the blindness or deafness of the user, use of a
22   support animal because of a physical handicap of the user or
23   because the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide
24   animals or because of the handicap or disability of an
25   individual with whom the person is known to have a relationship
26   or association.
27      (1.1)   Evict or attempt to evict an occupant of any housing
28   accommodation before the end of the term of a lease because of
29   pregnancy or the birth of a child.
30      (2)   Refuse to lend money, whether or not secured by mortgage

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 1   or otherwise for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation,
 2   repair or maintenance of any housing accommodation or commercial
 3   property or otherwise withhold financing of any housing
 4   accommodation or commercial property from any person because of
 5   the actual or perceived race, color, familial status, age,
 6   religious creed, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender
 7   identity or expression, national origin, handicap or disability
 8   of any person, the use of a guide or support animal because of
 9   the blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user or
10   because the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide
11   animals or because of the handicap or disability of an
12   individual with whom the person is known to have a relationship
13   or association.
14      (3)   Discriminate against any person in the terms or
15   conditions of selling or leasing any housing accommodation or
16   commercial property or in furnishing facilities, services or
17   privileges in connection with the ownership, occupancy or use of
18   any housing accommodation or commercial property because of the
19   actual or perceived race, color, familial status, age, religious
20   creed, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or
21   expression, national origin, handicap or disability of any
22   person, the use of a guide or support animal because of the
23   blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user or because
24   the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals or
25   because of the handicap or disability of an individual with whom
26   the person is known to have a relationship or association.
27      (3.1)   Refuse to permit, at the expense of a person with a
28   handicap, reasonable modifications of existing premises occupied
29   or to be occupied by such person if such modifications may be
30   necessary to afford such person full enjoyment of the premises,

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 1   except that, in the case of a rental, the landlord may, where it
 2   is reasonable to do so, grant permission for a modification if
 3   the renter agrees to restore the interior of the premises to the
 4   condition that existed before the modification, with reasonable
 5   wear and tear excepted.
 6      (3.2)   Refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules,
 7   policies, practices or services when such accommodations may be
 8   necessary to afford such person equal opportunity to use and
 9   enjoy a housing accommodation.
10      (4)   Discriminate against any person in the terms or
11   conditions of any loan of money, whether or not secured by
12   mortgage or otherwise for the acquisition, construction,
13   rehabilitation, repair or maintenance of housing accommodation
14   or commercial property because of the actual or perceived race,
15   color, familial status, age, religious creed, ancestry, sex,
16   sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national
17   origin or handicap or disability of any person, the use of a
18   guide or support animal because of the blindness, deafness or
19   physical handicap of the user or because the user is a handler
20   or trainer of guide or support animals or because of the
21   handicap or disability of an individual with whom the person is
22   known to have a relationship or association.
23      (5)   Print, publish or circulate any statement or
24   advertisement: (i) relating to the sale, lease or acquisition of
25   any housing accommodation or commercial property or the loan of
26   money, whether or not secured by mortgage, or otherwise for the
27   acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair or maintenance
28   of any housing accommodation or commercial property which
29   indicates any preference, limitation, specification, or
30   discrimination based upon race, color, familial status, age,

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 1   religious creed, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender
 2   identity or expression, national origin, handicap or disability
 3   or because of the handicap or disability of an individual with
 4   whom the person is known to have a relationship or association,
 5   or (ii) relating to the sale, lease or acquisition of any
 6   housing accommodation or commercial property which indicates any
 7   preference, limitation, specification or discrimination based
 8   upon use of a guide or support animal because of the blindness,
 9   deafness or physical handicap of the user or because the user is
10   a handler or trainer of support or guide animals.
11      (6)   Make any inquiry, elicit any information, make or keep
12   any record or use any form of application, containing questions
13   or entries concerning race, color, familial status, age,
14   religious creed, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender
15   identity or expression, national origin, handicap or disability
16   or because of the handicap or disability of an individual with
17   whom the person is known to have a relationship or association
18   in connection with the sale or lease of any housing
19   accommodation or commercial property or loan of any money,
20   whether or not secured by mortgage or otherwise for the
21   acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair or maintenance
22   of any housing accommodation or commercial property, or to make
23   any inquiry, elicit any information, make or keep any record or
24   use any form of application, containing questions or entries
25   concerning the use of a guide or support animal because of the
26   blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user or because
27   the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals, in
28   connection with the lease of any housing accommodation or
29   commercial property.
30      (7)   Construct, operate, offer for sale, lease or rent or

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 1   otherwise make available housing or commercial property which is
 2   not accessible.
 3      (8)    Discriminate in real estate-related transactions, as
 4   described by and subject to the following:
 5      (i)    It shall be unlawful for any person or other entity
 6   whose business includes engaging in real estate-related
 7   transactions to discriminate against any person in making
 8   available such a transaction or in the terms or conditions of
 9   such a transaction because of the actual or perceived race,
10   color, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual
11   orientation, gender identity or expression, age, handicap or
12   disability, use of a guide or support animal because of a
13   physical handicap or because the user is a handler or trainer of
14   guide or support animals or familial status.
15      (ii)    Nothing in this act prohibits a person engaged in the
16   business of furnishing appraisals of real property to take into
17   consideration factors other than race, color, religious creed,
18   ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender
19   identity or expression, age, handicap or disability, use of a
20   guide or support animal because of a physical handicap or
21   because the user is a handler or trainer of guide or support
22   animals or familial status.
23      (9)    Nothing in this clause, regarding age or familial
24   status, shall apply with respect to housing for older persons. A
25   person shall not be held personally liable for monetary damages
26   for a violation of this act if the person reasonably relied, in
27   good faith, on the application of the exemption of this
28   subclause. A person may only prove good faith reliance on the
29   application of the exemption of this subclause by proving that
30   at the time of the act complained of all of the following

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 1   applied:
 2      (i)     The person had no actual knowledge that the housing was
 3   not eligible for exemption under this subclause.
 4      (ii)    The owner or manager of the housing had stated
 5   formally, in writing, that the housing complied with the
 6   requirements for exemption under this subclause.
 7      (10)    Nothing in this clause shall bar any religious or
 8   denominational institution or organization or any charitable or
 9   educational organization which is operated, supervised or
10   controlled by or in connection with a religious organization or
11   any bona fide private or fraternal organization from giving
12   preference to persons of the same religion or denomination or to
13   members of such private or fraternal organization or from making
14   such selection as is calculated by such organization to promote
15   the religious principles or the aims, purposes or fraternal
16   principles for which it is established or maintained. Nor shall
17   it apply to the rental of rooms in a landlord-occupied rooming
18   house with a common entrance, nor with respect to discrimination
19   based on sex, the advertising, rental or leasing of housing
20   accommodations in a single-sex dormitory or rooms in one's
21   personal residence in which common living areas are shared.
22      (11)    Nothing in this act limits the applicability of the
23   Fair Housing Act and reasonable State or local restrictions on
24   the maximum number of occupants permitted to occupy a dwelling
25   or a reasonable restriction relating to health or safety
26   standards or business necessity. Owners and managers of
27   dwellings may develop and implement reasonable occupancy and
28   safety standards based on factors such as the number and size of
29   sleeping areas or bedrooms and the overall size of a dwelling
30   unit so long as the standards do not violate the Fair Housing

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 1   Act or State or local restrictions.
 2      (i)   For any person being the owner, lessee, proprietor,
 3   manager, superintendent, agent or employe of any public
 4   accommodation, resort or amusement to:
 5      (1)   Refuse, withhold from, or deny to any person because of
 6   [his] the actual or perceived race, color, sex, sexual
 7   orientation, gender identity or expression, religious creed,
 8   ancestry, national origin or handicap or disability, or to any
 9   person due to use of a guide or support animal because of the
10   blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user or because
11   the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals,
12   either directly or indirectly, any of the accommodations,
13   advantages, facilities or privileges of such public
14   accommodation, resort or amusement.
15      (2)   Publish, circulate, issue, display, post or mail, either
16   directly or indirectly, any written or printed communication,
17   notice or advertisement to the effect that any of the
18   accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of any
19   such place shall be refused, withheld from or denied to any
20   person on account of race, color, religious creed, sex, sexual
21   orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry, national
22   origin or handicap or disability, or to any person due to use of
23   a guide or support animal because of the blindness, deafness or
24   physical handicap of the user, or because the user is a handler
25   or trainer of support or guide animals, or that the patronage or
26   custom thereat of any person[, belonging to or purporting to be
27   of any particular] because of race, color, religious creed, sex,
28   sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry,
29   national origin or handicap or disability, or to any person due
30   to use of a guide or support animal because of the blindness,

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 1   deafness or physical handicap of the user or because the user is
 2   a handler or trainer of support or guide animals, is unwelcome,
 3   objectionable or not acceptable, desired or solicited.
 4         (3)   Exclude or otherwise deny equal goods, services,
 5   facilities, privileges, advantages, accommodations or other
 6   opportunities to a person because of the handicap or disability
 7   of an individual with whom the person is known to have a
 8   relationship or association.
 9         (4)   Construct, operate or otherwise make available such
10   place of public accommodation, resort or amusement which is not
11   accessible.
12         * * *
13         Section 5.3.   Prohibition of Certain Real Estate Practices.--
14   It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice for any person
15   to:
16         (a)   Induce, solicit or attempt to induce or solicit for
17   commercial profit any listing, sale or transaction involving any
18   housing accommodation or commercial property by representing
19   that such housing accommodation or commercial property is within
20   any neighborhood, community or area adjacent to any other area
21   in which there reside, or do not reside, persons of a particular
22   race, color, familial status, age, religious creed, ancestry,
23   sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national
24   origin, handicap or disability, or who are guide or support
25   animal dependent.
26         (b)   Discourage, or attempt to discourage, for commercial
27   profit, the purchase or lease of any housing accommodation or
28   commercial property by representing that such housing
29   accommodation or commercial property is within any neighborhood,
30   community or area adjacent to any other area in which there

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 1   reside, or may in the future reside in increased or decreased
 2   numbers, persons of a particular race, color, familial status,
 3   age, religious creed, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender
 4   identity or expression, national origin, handicap or disability,
 5   or who are guide or support animal dependent.
 6      (c)   Misrepresent, create or distort a circumstance,
 7   condition or incident for the purpose of fostering the
 8   impression or belief, on the part of any owner, occupant or
 9   prospective owner or occupant of any housing accommodation or
10   commercial property, that such housing accommodation or
11   commercial property is within any neighborhood, community or
12   area adjacent to any other area which would be adversely
13   impacted by the residence, or future increased or decreased
14   residence, of persons of a particular race, color, familial
15   status, age, religious creed, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation,
16   gender identity or expression, national origin, handicap or
17   disability, or who are guide or support animal dependent within
18   such neighborhood, community or area.
19      (d)   In any way misrepresent or otherwise misadvertise within
20   a neighborhood or community, whether or not in writing, that any
21   housing accommodation or commercial property within such
22   neighborhood or community is available for inspection, sale,
23   lease, sublease or other transfer, in any context where such
24   misrepresentation or misadvertising would have the effect of
25   fostering an impression or belief that there has been or will be
26   an increase in real estate activity within such neighborhood or
27   community due to the residence, or anticipated increased or
28   decreased residence, of persons of a particular race, color,
29   familial status, age, religious creed, ancestry, sex, sexual
30   orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin,

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 1   handicap or disability, or the use of a guide or support animal
 2   because of the blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the
 3   user.
 4      Section 4.   The act is amended by adding a section to read:
 5      Section 5.4.    Protection of Religious Exercise.--(a)   Nothing
 6   contained in this act, or in any ordinance, charter, law or
 7   regulation that is or has been adopted by any political
 8   subdivision in this Commonwealth in accordance with this act,
 9   shall be interpreted to:
10      (1)   Prohibit any religious entity from determining the
11   tenets of its faith, or from expressing those tenets, if the
12   prohibition would violate the freedom of speech or free exercise
13   of religion guaranteed to the religious entity by the
14   Constitution of the United States or the Constitution of
15   Pennsylvania.
16      (2)   Require an individual or religious entity to engage in
17   conduct prohibited by or inconsistent with the tenets of its
18   faith if the requirement would violate the free exercise of
19   religion guaranteed to the individual or religious entity by the
20   Constitution of the United States or the Constitution of
21   Pennsylvania.
22      (b)   As used in this section, the term "religious entity"
23   means a religious or denominational institution or organization
24   or a charitable or educational organization which is operated,
25   supervised or controlled by or in connection with a religious
26   organization.
27      Section 5.   Sections 7(i), (j) and (k) and 8 of the act are
28   amended to read:
29      Section 7.   Powers and Duties of the Commission.--The
30   Commission shall have the following powers and duties:

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 1      * * *
 2      (i)   To create such advisory agencies and conciliation
 3   councils, local or state-wide, as will aid in effectuating the
 4   purposes of this act. The Commission may itself or it may
 5   empower these agencies and councils to (1) study the problems of
 6   discrimination in all or specific fields of human relationships
 7   when based on actual or perceived race, color, familial status,
 8   religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender
 9   identity or expression, national origin or handicap or
10   disability, and (2) foster, through community effort or
11   otherwise, good will among the groups and elements of the
12   population of the State. Such agencies and councils may make
13   recommendations to the Commission for the development of
14   policies and procedure in general. Advisory agencies and
15   conciliation councils created by the Commission shall be
16   composed of representative citizens, serving without pay, but
17   the Commission may make provision for technical and clerical
18   assistance to such agencies and councils, and for the payment of
19   the expenses of such assistance.
20      (j)   To issue such publications and such results of
21   investigations and research as, in its judgment, will tend to
22   promote good will and minimize or eliminate discrimination
23   because of actual or perceived race, color, familial status,
24   religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender
25   identity or expression, national origin or handicap or
26   disability.
27      (k)   To submit an annual report for each fiscal year by the
28   following March 31 to the General Assembly, the Labor and
29   Industry Committee of the Senate and the State Government
30   Committee of the House of Representatives and the Governor

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 1   describing in detail the types of complaints received, the
 2   investigations, status of cases, Commission action which has
 3   been taken, how many were found to have probable cause, how many
 4   were resolved by public hearing and the length of time from the
 5   initial complaint to final Commission resolution. It shall also
 6   contain recommendations for such further legislation concerning
 7   abuses and discrimination because of actual or perceived race,
 8   color, familial status, religious creed, ancestry, national
 9   origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or
10   expression, handicap or disability or the use of a guide or
11   support animal because of the blindness, deafness or physical
12   handicap of the user or because the user is a handler or trainer
13   of support or guide animals, as may be desirable.
14      * * *
15      Section 8.    Educational Program.--The Commission, in
16   cooperation with the Department of Education, is authorized to
17   recommend a multicultural educational program, designed for the
18   students of the schools in this Commonwealth and for all other
19   residents thereof, with emphasis on foreign cultural and
20   language studies, as well as on the basic shared precepts and
21   principles of United States culture, in order to promote
22   cultural understanding and appreciation and to further good will
23   among all persons, without regard to race, color, familial
24   status, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation,
25   gender identity or expression, national origin, handicap or
26   disability.
27      Section 6.    Section 12(b) of the act is amended and the
28   section is amended by adding a subsection to read:
29      Section 12.    Construction and Exclusiveness of Remedy.--
30      * * *

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 1      (b)   Except as provided in subsection (c), nothing contained
 2   in this act shall be deemed to repeal or supersede any of the
 3   provisions of any existing or hereafter adopted municipal
 4   ordinance, municipal charter or of any law of this Commonwealth
 5   relating to discrimination because of actual or perceived race,
 6   color, familial status, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex,
 7   sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national
 8   origin or handicap or disability, but as to acts declared
 9   unlawful by section five of this act the procedure herein
10   provided shall, when invoked, be exclusive and the final
11   determination therein shall exclude any other action, civil or
12   criminal, based on the same grievance of the complainant
13   concerned. If the complainant institutes any action based on
14   such grievance without resorting to the procedure provided in
15   this act, such complainant may not subsequently resort to the
16   procedure herein. In the event of a conflict between the
17   interpretation of a provision of this act and the interpretation
18   of a similar provision contained in any municipal ordinance, the
19   interpretation of the provision in this act shall apply to such
20   municipal ordinance.
21      * * *
22      (g)   Nothing in this act shall prohibit an employer from
23   requiring an employe, during the employe's hours at work, to
24   adhere to reasonable dress or grooming standards not prohibited
25   by other provisions of Federal, State or local law, provided
26   that the employer permits an employe to adhere to the dress or
27   grooming standards that are consistent with the employe's gender
28   identity or expression.
29      Section 7.   This act shall take effect in 30 days.



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