PRINTER'S NO. 1556
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1394
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY MAYES, McCLINTON, BELLMON, HOHENSTEIN, RABB,
KINSEY, McNEILL, KENYATTA, STEELE, PROBST, MADDEN, BRENNAN,
SCHLOSSBERG, HILL-EVANS, HANBIDGE, KAZEEM, BENHAM, BOROWSKI,
SMITH-WADE-EL, CERRATO, KIM, WARREN, PISCIOTTANO, MERSKI,
PARKER, BULLOCK, SALISBURY, KHAN, SHUSTERMAN, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
WAXMAN, MALAGARI, MADSEN, CURRY AND DONAHUE, JUNE 13, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JUNE 13, 2023
AN ACT
Amending the act of October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), entitled
"An act prohibiting certain practices of discrimination
because of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age or
national origin by employers, employment agencies, labor
organizations and others as herein defined; creating the
Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission in the Governor's
Office; defining its functions, powers and duties; providing
for procedure and enforcement; providing for formulation of
an educational program to prevent prejudice; providing for
judicial review and enforcement and imposing penalties,"
further providing for definitions.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 4 of the act of October 27, 1955
(P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania Human Relations
Act, is amended by adding clauses to read:
Section 4. Definitions.--As used in this act unless a
different meaning clearly appears from the context:
* * *
(bb) The term "race" includes traits historically associated
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with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles.
(cc) The term "protective hairstyle" includes, but is not
limited to, such hairstyles as dreads, locs, braids, twists,
coils, Bantu knots, cornrows and extensions.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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