Labor & Employment

SB 428, known as the General Appropriation Act of 2025, allocates funds from the state's General Fund to support various agencies within the Executive Department. It provides money for their expenses, such as salaries, services, and equipment, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and also covers any unpaid bills from the prior fiscal year. For instance, the bill specifically appropriates $15 million for workforce development programs managed by the Department of Community and Economic Development. Any unspent funds will lapse at the end of the fiscal year.

SB 113 establishes new rules for investigating misconduct by Pennsylvania correctional and forensic employees (e.g., prison staff, forensic facility workers). It requires recorded interrogations, informs employees of their right to legal counsel, prohibits using polygraph tests or threatening job loss to compel statements, and mandates paid suspensions during investigations unless criminal charges are filed. The bill ensures union contracts cannot weaken these protections and prohibits retaliation against employees exercising these rights. It also clarifies that investigations must follow specific procedures to protect employee rights during disciplinary processes.