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. 1614
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 1267
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY HAYWOOD, HUGHES, TARTAGLIONE, COSTA, CAPPELLETTI
AND KANE, APRIL 17, 2026
REFERRED TO URBAN AFFAIRS AND HOUSING, APRIL 17, 2026
AN ACT
Amending the act of October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), entitled
"An act prohibiting certain practices of discrimination
because of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age or
national origin by employers, employment agencies, labor
organizations and others as herein defined; creating the
Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission in the Governor's
Office; defining its functions, powers and duties; providing
for procedure and enforcement; providing for formulation of
an educational program to prevent prejudice; providing for
judicial review and enforcement and imposing penalties,"
further providing for procedure.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 9(f)(2) and (h) of the act of October 27,
1955 (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania Human
Relations Act, are amended and subsection (f) is amended by
adding a paragraph to read:
Section 9. Procedure.--* * *
(f) * * *
(2) Such order may also assess a civil penalty against the
respondent in a complaint of discrimination filed under sections
5(h) or 5.3:
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(i) in an amount not exceeding [ten thousand dollars
($10,000)] twenty-six thousand two hundred sixty-two dollars
($26,262) if the respondent has not been adjudged to have
committed any prior discriminatory practice;
(ii) in an amount not exceeding [twenty-five thousand
dollars ($25,000)] sixty-five thousand six hundred fifty-three
dollars ($65,653) if the respondent has been adjudged to have
committed one other discriminatory practice during the five-year
period ending on the date of this order; or
(iii) in an amount not exceeding [fifty thousand dollars
($50,000)] one hundred thirty-one thousand three hundred eight
dollars ($131,308) if the respondent has been adjudged to have
committed more than one other discriminatory practice during the
seven-year period ending on the date of this order.
If, however, the acts constituting the discriminatory practice
that is the object of the charge are committed by the same
natural person who has been previously adjudged to have
committed acts constituting a discriminatory practice, then the
civil penalties set forth in subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) may be
imposed without regard to the period of time within which any
subsequent discriminatory practice occurred.
(2.1) Beginning in fiscal year 2026-2027 and each fiscal
year thereafter, the Commission shall determine the percentage
change between the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers:
All Items (CPI-U) for the United States City Average, as
published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of
Labor Statistics, for October preceding the date of adjustment
and the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items
(CPI-U) for the United States City Average for October of the
prior year. If the percentage change is positive, the Commission
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shall adjust the civil penalties under paragraph (2)(i), (ii)
and (iii) accordingly. The adjusted civil penalty amounts shall
take effect July 1 of each fiscal year. The Commission shall
transmit notice of the adjusted civil penalty amounts to the
Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the next
available issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
* * *
(h) Any complaint filed pursuant to this section must be so
filed within [one hundred eighty] three hundred sixty-five days
after the alleged act of discrimination, unless otherwise
required by the Fair Housing Act.
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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