SB 1267

                                                 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
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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