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House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	December 2, 2014 02:46 PM
From:	Representative Mark B. Cohen
To:	All House members
Subject:	Amendng the PA Fair Educational Opportunities Act to include sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and age

In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation amending the Pennsylvania Fair Educational Opportunities Act to expand prohibitions against discrimination. The act currently provides for equality of educational opportunities regardless of an individual’s race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, handicap or disability. My proposal would expand those protections to include sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and age, making it consistent with the Human Relations Commission and other pending anti-discrimination legislation. The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission currently has responsibility for enforcing all of the Commonwealth’s antidiscrimination laws regarding race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age or national origin by employers, employment agencies, labor organizations and others. The Commission is also responsible for enforcement and oversight of the Pennsylvania Fair Educational Opportunities Act. My proposal would expand the protections outlined in the Pennsylvania Fair Educational Opportunities Act to include sexual orientation, gender identity or expression in keeping with House Bill 300 introduced by Representative Dan Frankel, and age for purposes of consistency with the Human Relations Act. Mr. Frank Finch III, Philadelphia labor lawyer and previous employee of the Commission, brought these inconsistencies to my attention. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Seidl of my office at 787-4117 or kseidl@pahouse.net. Thank you. Previous co-sponsors: COHEN, K. BOYLE, V. BROWN, BROWNLEE, CLAY, DAVIS, FLECK, FRANKEL, KINSEY, McCARTER, McGEEHAN, McNEILL, O'BRIEN, PAINTER, READSHAW, SCHLOSSBERG and THOMAS.

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