PRINTER'S NO. 2286
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1703
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY DALEY, THOMAS, WARREN, SOLOMON, SIMS, McCARTER,
FRANKEL, DEAN, YOUNGBLOOD, FREEMAN AND VAZQUEZ,
AUGUST 15, 2017
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, AUGUST 15, 2017
AN ACT
Amending Title 38 (Holidays and Observances) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, providing for election day.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 38 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a part to read:
PART I
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
Chapter
5. Election Day
CHAPTER 5
ELECTION DAY
Sec.
501. Definitions.
502. Observance of Election Day as legal holiday.
§ 501. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
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shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of State of the Commonwealth.
"Election Day." The day of a general election or primary
election.
"General election." The election which the Constitution of
Pennsylvania requires to be held in even-numbered years.
"Primary election." An election for the nomination of
candidates.
"Private employer." An employer that is engaged in business
in this Commonwealth. The term does not include a public
employer, school district or county.
"Public employer."
(1) Any of the following:
(i) T he Commonwealth.
(ii) A political subdivision of the Commonwealth,
including a board, commission, agency or authority of the
Commonwealth.
(iii) Any other instrumentality of the Commonwealth.
(2) The term does not include a school district or
county.
§ 502. Observance of Election Day as legal holiday.
(a) General rule.--A public employer shall observe Election
Day as a legal holiday.
(b) Other public entities.--A school district or county may
observe Election Day as a legal holiday.
(c) Private employers.--
(1) On Election Day, a private employer shall provide no
less than two hours of unpaid leave to its employees for the
purpose of voting.
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(2) A private employer that fails to comply with this
subsection shall pay a fine of not less than $1,000 to the
county board of elections.
(d) Enforcement.--The department shall enforce the
provisions of this section and may promulgate regulations
necessary to enforce the provisions of this section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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