An Act amending the act of July 23, 1970 (P.L.563, No.195), known as the Public Employe Relations Act, in collective bargaining impasse, further providing for arbitration; and, in strikes, further providing for prohibited strikes.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2852 PRINTER'S NO. 3277
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2190
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY GOUGHNOUR, MARKOSEK, McNEILL, WAXMAN, HADDOCK,
RIVERA, HARKINS, MUNROE, HILL-EVANS, MALAGARI, BRENNAN,
INGLIS, STEELE, PIELLI, MULLINS, RASEL, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
MADDEN, D. WILLIAMS, DOUGHERTY, BOROWSKI, O'MARA, KINKEAD,
GIRAL AND PROKOPIAK, FEBRUARY 2, 2026
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, APRIL 27, 2026
AN ACT
Amending the act of July 23, 1970 (P.L.563, No.195), entitled
"An act establishing rights in public employes to organize
and bargain collectively through selected representatives;
defining public employes to include employes of nonprofit
organizations and institutions; providing compulsory
mediation and fact-finding, for collective bargaining
impasses; providing arbitration for certain public employes
for collective bargaining impasses; defining the scope of
collective bargaining; establishing unfair employe and
employer practices; prohibiting strikes for certain public
employes; permitting strikes under limited conditions;
providing penalties for violations; and establishing
procedures for implementation," in collective bargaining
impasse, further providing for arbitration; AND, IN STRIKES,
FURTHER PROVIDING FOR PROHIBITED STRIKES.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 805 of the act of July 23, 1970 (P.L.563,
No.195), known as the Public Employe Relations Act, is amended
to read:
SECTION 1. SECTIONS 805 AND 1001 OF THE ACT OF JULY 23, 1970
(P.L.563, NO.195), KNOWN AS THE PUBLIC EMPLOYE RELATIONS ACT,
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ARE AMENDED TO READ:
Section 805. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
act where representatives of units of guards at prisons or
mental hospitals, units of peace officers as defined under 18
Pa.C.S. § 501 (relating to definitions) who are covered by this
act or units of employes directly involved with and necessary to
the functioning of the courts of this Commonwealth have reached
an impasse in collective bargaining and mediation as required in
section 801 of this article has not resolved the dispute, the
impasse shall be submitted to a panel of arbitrators whose
decision shall be final and binding upon both parties with the
proviso that the decisions of the arbitrators which would
require legislative enactment to be effective shall be
considered advisory only.
SECTION 1001. STRIKES BY GUARDS AT PRISONS OR MENTAL
HOSPITALS, UNITS OF PEACE OFFICERS AS DEFINED UNDER 18 PA.C.S. §
501 (RELATING TO DEFINITIONS) WHO ARE COVERED BY THIS ACT OR
EMPLOYES DIRECTLY INVOLVED WITH AND NECESSARY TO THE FUNCTIONING
OF THE COURTS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH ARE PROHIBITED AT ANY TIME.
IF A STRIKE OCCURS THE PUBLIC EMPLOYER SHALL FORTHWITH INITIATE
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF THE JURISDICTION WHERE THE
STRIKE OCCURS, AN ACTION FOR APPROPRIATE EQUITABLE RELIEF
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INJUNCTIONS. IF THE STRIKE INVOLVES
COMMONWEALTH EMPLOYES, THE CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER OF THE PUBLIC
EMPLOYER OR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHERE REQUIRED BY LAW SHALL
INSTITUTE AN ACTION FOR EQUITABLE RELIEF, EITHER IN THE COURT OF
COMMON PLEAS OF THE JURISDICTION WHERE THE STRIKE HAS OCCURRED
OR THE COMMONWEALTH COURT.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20260HB2190PN3277 - 2 -
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