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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 14, 2013 01:56 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Brendan F. Boyle |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Reintroduction of Legislation - The Pennsylvania Fair Employment Opportunity Act (Prior HB 2157 of 2011/2012) |
| I will soon be reintroducing legislation creating “The Pennsylvania Fair Employment Opportunity Act,” which would prohibit employers or employment agencies from discriminating against unemployed workers in job advertisements and hiring. In recent years, job advertisements stipulating that candidates must “be presently employed” or that the “unemployed need not apply” have appeared from employers in Pennsylvania and throughout the country. These ads are not only appalling, but also troublesome in light of continued high unemployment. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I), 512,000 Pennsylvania residents were unemployed as of November 2012. What’s more, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nearly 40% of the unemployed (4.8 million individuals nationally) have been out of work for at least six months. “Unemployed need not apply” advertisements and similar discrimination by employers are road blocks for many qualified and capable residents who are currently looking for work and which must be removed and prohibited. Accordingly, my legislation will create a process within L&I for these advertisements and occurrences to be reported and investigated and create fines for employers or agencies that post such advertisements and refuse to consider unemployed applicants. During the last legislative session, similar proposals were put forth in nearby states, including Maryland, New York, and Ohio. Similar proposals were enacted in New Jersey and the District of Columbia. I firmly believe that my legislation will support our state’s efforts to help residents seeking reemployment, and I hope that you will join me in co-sponsoring this important measure. If you have any questions, please contact Laurie Fouse-Miller in my office at 717-787-3055. Previous co-sponsors: K. BOYLE, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, V. BROWN, BROWNLEE, BURNS, BUXTON, CALTAGIRONE, CARROLL, D. COSTA, DALEY, DAVIS, DeLUCA, DERMODY, DONATUCCI, D. EVANS, FABRIZIO, FRANKEL, GEORGE, GERGELY, GOODMAN, HALUSKA, HANNA, HARHAI, HORNAMAN, JOSEPHS, KAVULICH, W. KELLER, KORTZ, KULA, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MANN, MARKOSEK, McGEEHAN, MUNDY, MURPHY, M. O'BRIEN, PASHINSKI, PAYTON, QUINN, SANTONI, STURLA, and YOUNGBLOOD |
Introduced as HB180