An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in general powers and duties of the Department of Public Welfare, further providing for personal care home and assisted living residence administrators; and abrogating regulations.
SB 115 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to replace the high school diploma or GED requirement for direct care staff in personal care homes and assisted living residences with a skills competency exam. The exam assesses communication skills, basic literacy, cultural awareness, and knowledge of mental health needs specific to these settings, without permitting medication administration. This change specifically applies to individuals who are citizens of or educated in another country, lawfully reside in the U.S., and meet other qualifications, eliminating the need for facilities to seek certain waivers. The bill directs the Department of Human Services to create temporary implementing regulations within two years and repeals conflicting existing regulations.
Bill status
passed
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Governor
Introduced Jan 22, 2025
Last action Jun 17, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Printer's No. PN0066
→
Printer's No. PN0757
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This bill expands exemptions from high school diploma requirements for direct care staff in personal care homes and assisted living residences. It specifically exempts individuals who are citizens of or educated in another country and lawfully reside in the United States, provided they are otherwise qualified for the job. The bill also updates the expiration timeline for temporary regulations and clarifies that these new exemptions do not require administrative waivers.
Scope change
The bill's applicability now explicitly includes foreign-educated workers who are lawfully residing in the U.S., whereas previous versions did not specify this group.
ELIGIBILITY
Added a specific exemption for direct care staff who are citizens of or educated in another country and lawfully reside in the United States, allowing them to work without a high school diploma or GED.
REQUIREMENT
Changed the requirement for administrative waivers; facilities employing staff under the new foreign education exemption no longer need to apply for or obtain a waiver under specific state code sections.
TIMELINE
Updated the expiration of temporary regulations from a fixed date to 'two years after the effective date of this paragraph' to ensure flexibility.
TECHNICAL
Updated the bill text to reflect that Section 213 now includes both subsection (f) and the new subsection (G), and corrected the printer's number to match the final version.
Floor votes · Senate May 6, 2025 · House Jun 17, 2025
How they voted
48–2
Passed
Total votes 50
May 6, 2025
D
Democratic23
95% Yea
R
Republican27
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
13
Key actions
7
Committee
7
Amendments
1
Jun 17, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (26-0)
house
Jun 17, 2025
Committee
Re-referred to Human Services
lower
Jun 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported with request to re-refer to Human Services
lower
May 8, 2025
Committee
Referred to Professional Licensure
lower
May 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
upper
May 6, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (48-2)
senate
May 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amended on third consideration
upper
May 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Re-reported as committed
upper
May 5, 2025
Committee
Re-referred to Appropriations
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported as committed
upper
Jan 22, 2025
Committee
Referred to Health & Human Services
upper
1 primary · 16 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Dave Argall
RRepublican
Co
Chris Gebhard
RRepublican
Co
Cris Dush
RRepublican
Co
Dan Laughlin
RRepublican
Co
Devlin Robinson
RRepublican
Co
Doug Mastriano
RRepublican
Co
Frank Farry
RRepublican
Co
Judy Schwank
DDemocratic
Co
Judy Ward
RRepublican
Co
Kristin Phillips-Hill
RRepublican
Co
Lisa Boscola
DDemocratic
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