Labor & Employment (Public Employees) in Pennsylvania

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 1, 2026

SB 1247: 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 interest arbitration.

This bill modifies Pennsylvania's Public Employee Relations Act to introduce interest arbitration for specific public sector groups facing collective bargaining impasses. It directly affects prison guards, mental hospital staff, court employees, and peace officers by requiring their labor disputes to be resolved by a binding panel of arbitrators after mediation fails. The law mandates that these arbitrators make final decisions on contract terms, except for provisions that would require new legislation to implement. The changes take effect 60 days after the bill is signed into law.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Public Employees

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 12, 2026

HB 2190: 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.

HB 2190 amends Pennsylvania's Public Employe Relations Act to change how collective bargaining impasses are resolved for specific public safety and court staff. It requires binding arbitration for disputes involving prison guards, mental hospital staff, peace officers, and court employees when mediation fails - meaning the arbitrator's decision becomes final and enforceable. However, if an arbitration decision would require new legislation (e.g., changing pay rates or benefits), that part would only be advisory, not binding. The bill directly affects these public employee groups whose work is critical to security and court operations. This change streamlines dispute resolution while maintaining legislative oversight for policy changes.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Collective Bargaining Public Employees

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 166: An Act making appropriations from the State Employees' Retirement Fund and from the SERS Defined Contribution Fund to provide for expenses of the State Employees' Retirement Board for the fiscal year July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.

SB 166 is an appropriations bill that allocates funds for the operational expenses of the State Employees' Retirement Board. It appropriates $39,795,000 from the State Employees' Retirement Fund and $5,979,000 from the SERS Defined Contribution Fund. These funds are designated to cover salaries, travel, contractual services, and other costs necessary for the board to manage state employee retirement plans. The appropriations apply to the fiscal year from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, and also cover any unpaid bills from the prior fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics State Budget Public Employees Retirement Benefits

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 16, 2025

HB 1605: An Act amending Titles 24 (Education) and 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in membership, contributions and benefits, further providing for creditable nonschool service; and, in membership, credited service, classes of service, and eligibility for benefits, further providing for creditable nonstate service.

HB 1605 would amend Pennsylvania's retirement laws for public employees by expanding what counts as "creditable service" toward benefits. Specifically, it would allow education employees to include non-school service (such as work in non-school educational programs) and state government employees to include non-state service (such as local government work) in their retirement calculations. This change would directly affect public workers in education and state government retirement systems who have held diverse employment roles outside traditional school or state government settings. The bill is currently pending in the State Government committee.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Public Employees

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 27, 2025

HB 349: An Act amending Title 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in preliminary provisions relating to retirement for State employees and officers, further providing for definitions; and, in membership, credited service, classes of service, and eligibility for benefits, further providing for creditable nonstate service.

HB 349 expands retirement credit for Pennsylvania state employees by adding three specific types of prior service to count toward benefits: work at community colleges before July 1, 1971; service as a justice of the peace before January 1970; and up to five years of municipal police service by Pennsylvania State Police members. This affects state employees who previously held these roles and had not been able to count that service toward retirement. The bill amends existing statutes to clarify these service types as "creditable nonstate service" under retirement rules. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Public Employees

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Aug 4, 2025

HB 1767: An Act amending Titles 24 (Education), 71 (State Government) and 72 (Taxation and Fiscal Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in membership, contributions and benefits, providing for supplemental annuity commencing 2025; in benefits, providing for supplemental annuity commencing 2025; providing for special funds and for disposition of Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund; establishing the Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund Interest Account; and making a repeal.

HB 1767 amends Pennsylvania state statutes related to education, government, and taxation to modify retirement benefits for state employees. It establishes a supplemental retirement annuity program that will begin in 2025, affecting current and future state employees covered under the existing pension system. The bill also creates a new "Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund Interest Account" to manage specific state funds and repeals certain existing provisions. These changes primarily impact state employee retirement benefits and state fiscal management procedures.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Public Employees

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 21, 2025

HB 689: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, in administrative organization, further providing for work-hours and leaves.

HB 689 clarifies leave policies for Pennsylvania state employees when their department, board, or commission closes due to a Governor-declared disaster emergency or other unforeseen events beyond control. If closure prevents an employee from working for at least five consecutive business days, they may be placed on unpaid leave while retaining health insurance and other fringe benefits (such as retirement contributions). Employees can choose to use accrued paid leave first before transitioning to unpaid leave. This applies to most employees but excludes those who can telework or are already furloughed, and does not affect eligibility for unemployment benefits.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Insurance Paid Leave Public Employees Unemployment

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 31, 2025

HB 429: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, in special funds, further providing for disposition of Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund; and making interfund transfers.

HB 429 amends Pennsylvania's Fiscal Code to direct specific transfers from the Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund to address pension obligations. It requires $670 million to be transferred to the Public School Employees' Retirement Fund and $330 million to the State Employees' Retirement Fund by January 1, 2026, as one-time payments to reduce their unfunded pension liabilities. These transfers are separate from the fund's usual purpose of covering emergencies or economic downturns. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania's public employee pension systems, not general state programs or new legislation.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Pensions State Budget Public Employees

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 6, 2025

SB 397: An Act amending the act of July 23, 1970 (P.L.563, No.195), known as the Public Employe Relations Act, in employee rights, providing for reporting of dues and for annual report; in Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, providing for report availability; and, in collective bargaining agreement, providing for forwarding agreement to board.

SB 397 amends Pennsylvania's Public Employe Relations Act to require public employee unions to report how membership dues are spent. It mandates that unions file quarterly reports with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board detailing officer salaries, benefits, all expenses (including travel), and political spending related to elections. The bill also requires public employers to forward signed collective bargaining agreements to the board within 15 days and directs the board to make all reports and agreements publicly accessible online. These changes directly affect public-sector unions and the Labor Relations Board, increasing transparency around union finances and contract terms. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Public Employees

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 9, 2025

SB 593: An Act amending Title 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in selection of employees for entrance to or promotion in classified service, providing for additional points in grading civil service examinations of applicants with disabilities.

Pennsylvania's SB 593 adds five extra points to civil service exam scores for applicants with disabilities who voluntarily disclose their disability and provide required documentation. This applies to state and local government job openings requiring civil service exams, affecting applicants who meet the definition under Pennsylvania's Human Relations Act. The bill requires the civil service commission to publicly advertise this policy on its website and in exam materials. It does not mandate disclosure but ensures eligible applicants with disclosed disabilities receive the score adjustment to determine their ranking on hiring lists.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Public Employees

All labor & employment bills