PRINTER'S NO. 1776
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
300
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY FRANKEL, BENHAM, KENYATTA, SIMS, McCLINTON,
BURGOS, HILL-EVANS, STURLA, RABB, ZABEL, LEE, SAMUELSON,
SANCHEZ, FREEMAN, SCHLOSSBERG, HOWARD, McNEILL, THOMAS,
A. DAVIS, PISCIOTTANO, GALLOWAY, ISAACSON, DELLOSO,
HOHENSTEIN, SCHWEYER, N. NELSON, BRIGGS, OTTEN, GAINEY,
BULLOCK, D. MILLER, FIEDLER, GUENST, DALEY, MALAGARI, CIRESI,
ROZZI, CONKLIN, FITZGERALD, INNAMORATO, O'MARA, KOSIEROWSKI,
MARKOSEK, KIM, SHUSTERMAN, D. WILLIAMS, HERRIN, BRADFORD,
DEASY, WARREN, MADDEN, BIZZARRO, GUZMAN, KINKEAD, YOUNG,
KRUEGER, HARRIS, KRAJEWSKI, KINSEY, MERSKI, SAPPEY, CARROLL,
T. DAVIS, DRISCOLL, CRUZ, STEPHENS, HANBIDGE, WHEATLEY AND
CEPHAS, JUNE 11, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JUNE 11, 2021
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 the title of the act, for
findings and declaration of policy, for right to freedom from
discrimination in employment, housing and public
accommodation, for definitions, for unlawful discriminatory
practices and for prohibition of certain real estate
practices; providing for protection of religious exercise;
and further providing for powers and duties of commission,
for educational program and for construction and
exclusiveness of remedy.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
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Section 1. The title and sections 2 and 3 of the act of
October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania
Human Relations Act, are amended to read:
AN ACT
Prohibiting certain practices of discrimination because of race,
color, religious creed, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation,
gender identity or expression, 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.
Section 2. Findings and Declaration of Policy.--
(a) The practice or policy of discrimination against
individuals or groups by reason of their race, color, familial
status, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation,
gender identity or expression, national origin, handicap or
disability, use of guide or support animals because of the
blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user or because
the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals is
a matter of concern of the Commonwealth. Such discrimination
foments domestic strife and unrest, threatens the rights and
privileges of the inhabitants of the Commonwealth, and
undermines the foundations of a free democratic state. The
denial of equal employment, housing and public accommodation
opportunities because of such discrimination, and the consequent
failure to utilize the productive capacities of individuals to
their fullest extent, deprives large segments of the population
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of the Commonwealth of earnings necessary to maintain decent
standards of living, necessitates their resort to public relief
and intensifies group conflicts, thereby resulting in grave
injury to the public health and welfare, compels many
individuals to live in dwellings which are substandard,
unhealthful and overcrowded, resulting in racial segregation in
public schools and other community facilities, juvenile
delinquency and other evils, thereby threatening the peace,
health, safety and general welfare of the Commonwealth and its
inhabitants. Public policies, reflecting an open and welcoming
environment and ensuring equal opportunity, foster economic
growth and prosperity which benefit the inhabitants of this
Commonwealth. Conversely, the absence of nondiscrimination
protections hinder efforts to recruit and retain the diversity
of talented individuals and successful enterprises required for
a thriving economy and strong public sector on which the
inhabitants of this Commonwealth depend.
(b) It is hereby declared to be the public policy of this
Commonwealth to foster the employment of all individuals in
accordance with their fullest capacities regardless of their
race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin,
handicap or disability, use of guide or support animals because
of the blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user or
because the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide
animals, and to safeguard their right to obtain and hold
employment without such discrimination, to assure equal
opportunities to all individuals and to safeguard their rights
to public accommodation and to secure housing accommodation and
commercial property regardless of race, color, familial status,
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religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity or expression, national origin, handicap or disability,
use of guide or support animals because of blindness or deafness
of the user or because the user is a handler or trainer of guide
or support animals.
(c) This act shall be deemed an exercise of the police power
of the Commonwealth for the protection of the public welfare,
prosperity, health and peace of the people of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania.
Section 3. Right to Freedom from Discrimination in
Employment, Housing and Public Accommodation.--The opportunity
for an individual to obtain employment for which he is
qualified, and to obtain all the accommodations, advantages,
facilities and privileges of any public accommodation and of any
housing accommodation and commercial property without
discrimination because of race, color, familial status,
religious creed, ancestry, handicap or disability, age, sex,
sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national
origin, the use of a guide or support animal because of the
blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user or because
the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals is
hereby recognized as and declared to be a civil right which
shall be enforceable as set forth in this act.
Section 2. Section 4(b) of the act is amended and the
section is amended by adding subsections to read:
Section 4. Definitions.--As used in this act unless a
different meaning clearly appears from the context:
* * *
(b) The term "employer" includes the Commonwealth or any
political subdivision or board, department, commission or school
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district thereof and any person employing four or more persons
within the Commonwealth, but except as hereinafter provided,
does not include religious, fraternal, charitable or sectarian
corporations or associations, except such corporations or
associations supported, in whole or in part, by governmental
appropriations. The term "employer" with respect to
discriminatory practices based on race, color, age, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or
non-job related handicap or disability, includes religious,
fraternal, charitable and sectarian corporations and
associations employing four or more persons within the
Commonwealth.
* * *
(bb) The term "sexual orientation" means an individual's
physical, romantic, or emotional attraction to individuals of
the same or different gender.
(cc) The term "gender identity or expression" means an
individual's gender-related identity, appearance, mannerisms,
expression or other gender-related characteristics regardless of
the individual's designated or perceived sex.
Section 3. Section 5(a), (b), (c), (f), (g), (h) and (i) of
the act are amended to read:
Section 5. Unlawful Discriminatory Practices.--It shall be
an unlawful discriminatory practice, unless based upon a bona
fide occupational qualification, or in the case of a fraternal
corporation or association, unless based upon membership in such
association or corporation, or except where based upon
applicable security regulations established by the United States
or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:
(a) For any employer because of the actual or perceived
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race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or
non-job related handicap or disability or the use of a guide or
support animal because of the blindness, deafness or physical
handicap of any individual or independent contractor, to refuse
to hire or employ or contract with, or to bar or to discharge
from employment such individual or independent contractor, or to
otherwise discriminate against such individual or independent
contractor with respect to compensation, hire, tenure, terms,
conditions or privileges of employment or contract, if the
individual or independent contractor is the best able and most
competent to perform the services required. The [provision]
provisions of this paragraph shall not apply, to (1) operation
of the terms or conditions of any bona fide retirement or
pension plan which have the effect of a minimum service
requirement, (2) operation of the terms or conditions of any
bona fide group or employe insurance plan, (3) age limitations
placed upon entry into bona fide apprenticeship programs of two
years or more approved by the State Apprenticeship and Training
Council of the Department of Labor and Industry, established by
the act of July 14, 1961 (P.L.604, No.304), known as "The
Apprenticeship and Training Act." Notwithstanding any provision
of this clause, it shall not be an unlawful employment practice
for a religious corporation or association to hire or employ on
the basis of sex in those certain instances where sex is a bona
fide occupational qualification because of the religious
beliefs, practices, or observances of the corporation, or
association. Except as otherwise required by law, it is not an
unlawful discriminatory practice based on the actual or
perceived race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, sexual
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orientation, gender identity or expression or national origin
under this act to fail or refuse to construct new or additional
facilities.
(b) For any employer, employment agency or labor
organization, prior to the employment, contracting with an
independent contractor or admission to membership, to:
(1) Elicit any information or make or keep a record of or
use any form of application or application blank containing
questions or entries concerning the race, color, religious
creed, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity
or expression, national origin, past handicap or disability or
the use of a guide or support animal because of the blindness,
deafness or physical handicap of any applicant for employment or
membership. Prior to an offer of employment, an employer may not
inquire as to whether an individual has a handicap or disability
or as to the severity of such handicap or disability. An
employer may inquire as to the individual's ability to perform
the essential functions of the employment.
(2) Print or publish or cause to be printed or published any
notice or advertisement relating to employment or membership
indicating any preference, limitation, specification or
discrimination based upon race, color, religious creed,
ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or
expression, national origin, non-job related handicap or
disability or the use of a guide or support animal because of
the blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user.
(3) Deny or limit, through a quota system, employment or
membership because of the actual or perceived race, color,
religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity or expression, national origin, non-job related
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handicap or disability, the use of a guide or support animal
because of the blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the
user or place of birth.
(4) Substantially confine or limit recruitment or hiring of
individuals, with intent to circumvent the spirit and purpose of
this act, to any employment agency, employment service, labor
organization, training school or training center or any other
employe-referring source which services individuals who are
predominantly of the same race, color, religious creed,
ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or
expression, national origin or non-job related handicap or
disability.
(5) Deny employment because of a prior handicap or
disability.
Nothing in clause (b) of this section shall bar any
institution or organization for handicapped or disabled persons
from limiting or giving preference in employment or membership
to handicapped or disabled persons.
(c) For any labor organization because of the actual or
perceived race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex,
sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national
origin, non-job related handicap or disability or the use of a
guide or support animal because of the blindness, deafness or
physical handicap of any individual to deny full and equal
membership rights to any individual or otherwise to discriminate
against such individuals with respect to hire, tenure, terms,
conditions or privileges of employment or any other matter,
directly or indirectly, related to employment.
* * *
(f) For any employment agency to fail or refuse to classify
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properly, refer for employment or otherwise to discriminate
against any individual because of [his] the actual or perceived
race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin,
non-job related handicap or disability or the use of a guide or
support animal because of the blindness, deafness or physical
handicap of the user.
(g) For any individual seeking employment to publish or
cause to be published any advertisement which in any manner
expresses a limitation or preference as to the race, color,
religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity or expression, national origin, non-job related
handicap or disability or the use of a guide or support animal
because of the blindness, deafness or physical handicap of any
prospective employer.
(h) For any person to:
(1) Refuse to sell, lease, finance or otherwise to deny or
withhold any housing accommodation or commercial property from
any person because of the actual or perceived race, color,
familial status, age, religious creed, ancestry, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or
handicap or disability of any person, prospective owner,
occupant or user of such housing accommodation or commercial
property, or to refuse to lease any housing accommodation or
commercial property to any person due to use of a guide animal
because of the blindness or deafness of the user, use of a
support animal because of a physical handicap of the user or
because the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide
animals or because of the handicap or disability of an
individual with whom the person is known to have a relationship
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or association.
(1.1) Evict or attempt to evict an occupant of any housing
accommodation before the end of the term of a lease because of
pregnancy or the birth of a child.
(2) Refuse to lend money, whether or not secured by mortgage
or otherwise for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation,
repair or maintenance of any housing accommodation or commercial
property or otherwise withhold financing of any housing
accommodation or commercial property from any person because of
the actual or perceived race, color, familial status, age,
religious creed, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity or expression, national origin, handicap or disability
of any person, the use of a guide or support animal because of
the blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user or
because the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide
animals or because of the handicap or disability of an
individual with whom the person is known to have a relationship
or association.
(3) Discriminate against any person in the terms or
conditions of selling or leasing any housing accommodation or
commercial property or in furnishing facilities, services or
privileges in connection with the ownership, occupancy or use of
any housing accommodation or commercial property because of the
actual or perceived race, color, familial status, age, religious
creed, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or
expression, national origin, handicap or disability of any
person, the use of a guide or support animal because of the
blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user or because
the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals or
because of the handicap or disability of an individual with whom
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the person is known to have a relationship or association.
(3.1) Refuse to permit, at the expense of a person with a
handicap, reasonable modifications of existing premises occupied
or to be occupied by such person if such modifications may be
necessary to afford such person full enjoyment of the premises,
except that, in the case of a rental, the landlord may, where it
is reasonable to do so, grant permission for a modification if
the renter agrees to restore the interior of the premises to the
condition that existed before the modification, with reasonable
wear and tear excepted.
(3.2) Refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules,
policies, practices or services when such accommodations may be
necessary to afford such person equal opportunity to use and
enjoy a housing accommodation.
(4) Discriminate against any person in the terms or
conditions of any loan of money, whether or not secured by
mortgage or otherwise for the acquisition, construction,
rehabilitation, repair or maintenance of housing accommodation
or commercial property because of the actual or perceived race,
color, familial status, age, religious creed, ancestry, sex,
sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national
origin or handicap or disability of any person, the use of a
guide or support animal because of the blindness, deafness or
physical handicap of the user or because the user is a handler
or trainer of guide or support animals or because of the
handicap or disability of an individual with whom the person is
known to have a relationship or association.
(5) Print, publish or circulate any statement or
advertisement: (i) relating to the sale, lease or acquisition of
any housing accommodation or commercial property or the loan of
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money, whether or not secured by mortgage, or otherwise for the
acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair or maintenance
of any housing accommodation or commercial property which
indicates any preference, limitation, specification, or
discrimination based upon race, color, familial status, age,
religious creed, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity or expression, national origin, handicap or disability
or because of the handicap or disability of an individual with
whom the person is known to have a relationship or association,
or (ii) relating to the sale, lease or acquisition of any
housing accommodation or commercial property which indicates any
preference, limitation, specification or discrimination based
upon use of a guide or support animal because of the blindness,
deafness or physical handicap of the user or because the user is
a handler or trainer of support or guide animals.
(6) Make any inquiry, elicit any information, make or keep
any record or use any form of application, containing questions
or entries concerning race, color, familial status, age,
religious creed, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity or expression, national origin, handicap or disability
or because of the handicap or disability of an individual with
whom the person is known to have a relationship or association
in connection with the sale or lease of any housing
accommodation or commercial property or loan of any money,
whether or not secured by mortgage or otherwise for the
acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair or maintenance
of any housing accommodation or commercial property, or to make
any inquiry, elicit any information, make or keep any record or
use any form of application, containing questions or entries
concerning the use of a guide or support animal because of the
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blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user or because
the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals, in
connection with the lease of any housing accommodation or
commercial property.
(7) Construct, operate, offer for sale, lease or rent or
otherwise make available housing or commercial property which is
not accessible.
(8) Discriminate in real estate-related transactions, as
described by and subject to the following:
(i) It shall be unlawful for any person or other entity
whose business includes engaging in real estate-related
transactions to discriminate against any person in making
available such a transaction or in the terms or conditions of
such a transaction because of actual or perceived race, color,
religious creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity or expression, age, handicap or
disability, use of a guide or support animal because of a
physical handicap or because the user is a handler or trainer of
guide or support animals or familial status.
(ii) Nothing in this act prohibits a person engaged in the
business of furnishing appraisals of real property to take into
consideration factors other than race, color, religious creed,
ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity or expression, age, handicap or disability, use of a
guide or support animal because of a physical handicap or
because the user is a handler or trainer of guide or support
animals or familial status.
(9) Nothing in this clause, regarding age or familial
status, shall apply with respect to housing for older persons. A
person shall not be held personally liable for monetary damages
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for a violation of this act if the person reasonably relied, in
good faith, on the application of the exemption of this
subclause. A person may only prove good faith reliance on the
application of the exemption of this subclause by proving that
at the time of the act complained of all of the following
applied:
(i) The person had no actual knowledge that the housing was
not eligible for exemption under this subclause.
(ii) The owner or manager of the housing had stated
formally, in writing, that the housing complied with the
requirements for exemption under this subclause.
(10) Nothing in this clause shall bar any religious or
denominational institution or organization or any charitable or
educational organization which is operated, supervised or
controlled by or in connection with a religious organization or
any bona fide private or fraternal organization from giving
preference to persons of the same religion or denomination or to
members of such private or fraternal organization or from making
such selection as is calculated by such organization to promote
the religious principles or the aims, purposes or fraternal
principles for which it is established or maintained. Nor shall
it apply to the rental of rooms in a landlord-occupied rooming
house with a common entrance, nor with respect to discrimination
based on sex, the advertising, rental or leasing of housing
accommodations in a single-sex dormitory or rooms in one's
personal residence in which common living areas are shared.
(11) Nothing in this act limits the applicability of the
Fair Housing Act and reasonable State or local restrictions on
the maximum number of occupants permitted to occupy a dwelling
or a reasonable restriction relating to health or safety
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standards or business necessity. Owners and managers of
dwellings may develop and implement reasonable occupancy and
safety standards based on factors such as the number and size of
sleeping areas or bedrooms and the overall size of a dwelling
unit so long as the standards do not violate the Fair Housing
Act or State or local restrictions.
(i) For any person being the owner, lessee, proprietor,
manager, superintendent, agent or employe of any public
accommodation, resort or amusement to:
(1) Refuse, withhold from, or deny to any person because of
[his] the actual or perceived race, color, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity or expression, religious creed,
ancestry, national origin or handicap or disability, or to any
person due to use of a guide or support animal because of the
blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the user or because
the user is a handler or trainer of support or guide animals,
either directly or indirectly, any of the accommodations,
advantages, facilities or privileges of such public
accommodation, resort or amusement.
(2) Publish, circulate, issue, display, post or mail, either
directly or indirectly, any written or printed communication,
notice or advertisement to the effect that any of the
accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of any
such place shall be refused, withheld from or denied to any
person on account of race, color, religious creed, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry, national
origin or handicap or disability, or to any person due to use of
a guide or support animal because of the blindness, deafness or
physical handicap of the user, or because the user is a handler
or trainer of support or guide animals, or that the patronage or
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custom thereat of any person[, belonging to or purporting to be
of any particular] because of race, color, religious creed, sex,
sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry,
national origin or handicap or disability, or to any person due
to use of a guide or support animal because of the blindness,
deafness or physical handicap of the user or because the user is
a handler or trainer of support or guide animals, is unwelcome,
objectionable or not acceptable, desired or solicited.
(3) Exclude or otherwise deny equal goods, services,
facilities, privileges, advantages, accommodations or other
opportunities to a person because of the handicap or disability
of an individual with whom the person is known to have a
relationship or association.
(4) Construct, operate or otherwise make available such
place of public accommodation, resort or amusement which is not
accessible.
* * *
Section 4. Section 5.3 of the act is amended to read:
Section 5.3. Prohibition of Certain Real Estate Practices.--
It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice for any person
to:
(a) Induce, solicit or attempt to induce or solicit for
commercial profit any listing, sale or transaction involving any
housing accommodation or commercial property by representing
that such housing accommodation or commercial property is within
any neighborhood, community or area adjacent to any other area
in which there reside, or do not reside, persons of a particular
race, color, familial status, age, religious creed, ancestry,
sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national
origin, handicap or disability, or who are guide or support
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animal dependent.
(b) Discourage, or attempt to discourage, for commercial
profit, the purchase or lease of any housing accommodation or
commercial property by representing that such housing
accommodation or commercial property is within any neighborhood,
community or area adjacent to any other area in which there
reside, or may in the future reside in increased or decreased
numbers, persons of a particular race, color, familial status,
age, religious creed, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity or expression, national origin, handicap or disability,
or who are guide or support animal dependent.
(c) Misrepresent, create or distort a circumstance,
condition or incident for the purpose of fostering the
impression or belief, on the part of any owner, occupant or
prospective owner or occupant of any housing accommodation or
commercial property, that such housing accommodation or
commercial property is within any neighborhood, community or
area adjacent to any other area which would be adversely
impacted by the residence, or future increased or decreased
residence, of persons of a particular race, color, familial
status, age, religious creed, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation,
gender identity or expression, national origin, handicap or
disability, or who are guide or support animal dependent within
such neighborhood, community or area.
(d) In any way misrepresent or otherwise misadvertise within
a neighborhood or community, whether or not in writing, that any
housing accommodation or commercial property within such
neighborhood or community is available for inspection, sale,
lease, sublease or other transfer, in any context where such
misrepresentation or misadvertising would have the effect of
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fostering an impression or belief that there has been or will be
an increase in real estate activity within such neighborhood or
community due to the residence, or anticipated increased or
decreased residence, of persons of a particular race, color,
familial status, age, religious creed, ancestry, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin,
handicap or disability, or the use of a guide or support animal
because of the blindness, deafness or physical handicap of the
user.
Section 5. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 5.4. Protection of Religious Exercise.--(a) Nothing
contained in this act, or in any ordinance, charter, law or
regulation that is or has been adopted by any political
subdivision in this Commonwealth in accordance with this act,
shall be interpreted to:
(1) Prohibit any religious entity from determining the
tenets of its faith, or from expressing those tenets, if the
prohibition would violate the freedom of speech or free exercise
of religion guaranteed to the religious entity by the
Constitution of the United States or the Constitution of
Pennsylvania.
(2) Require an individual or religious entity to engage in
conduct prohibited by or inconsistent with the tenets of its
faith if the requirement would violate the free exercise of
religion guaranteed to the individual or religious entity by the
Constitution of the United States or the Constitution of
Pennsylvania.
(b) As used in this section, the term "religious entity"
means a religious or denominational institution or organization
or a charitable or educational organization which is operated,
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supervised or controlled by or in connection with a religious
organization.
Section 6. Sections 7(i), (j) and (k) and 8 of the act are
amended to read:
Section 7. Powers and Duties of the Commission.--The
Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
* * *
(i) To create such advisory agencies and conciliation
councils, local or state-wide, as will aid in effectuating the
purposes of this act. The Commission may itself or it may
empower these agencies and councils to (1) study the problems of
discrimination in all or specific fields of human relationships
when based on actual or perceived race, color, familial status,
religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity or expression, national origin or handicap or
disability, and (2) foster, through community effort or
otherwise, good will among the groups and elements of the
population of the State. Such agencies and councils may make
recommendations to the Commission for the development of
policies and procedure in general. Advisory agencies and
conciliation councils created by the Commission shall be
composed of representative citizens, serving without pay, but
the Commission may make provision for technical and clerical
assistance to such agencies and councils, and for the payment of
the expenses of such assistance.
(j) To issue such publications and such results of
investigations and research as, in its judgment, will tend to
promote good will and minimize or eliminate discrimination
because of actual or perceived race, color, familial status,
religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender
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identity or expression, national origin or handicap or
disability.
(k) To submit an annual report for each fiscal year by the
following March 31 to the General Assembly, the Labor and
Industry Committee of the Senate and the State Government
Committee of the House of Representatives and the Governor
describing in detail the types of complaints received, the
investigations, status of cases, Commission action which has
been taken, how many were found to have probable cause, how many
were resolved by public hearing and the length of time from the
initial complaint to final Commission resolution. It shall also
contain recommendations for such further legislation concerning
abuses and discrimination because of actual or perceived race,
color, familial status, religious creed, ancestry, national
origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or
expression, handicap or disability or the use of a guide or
support animal because of the blindness, deafness or physical
handicap of the user or because the user is a handler or trainer
of support or guide animals, as may be desirable.
* * *
Section 8. Educational Program.--The Commission, in
cooperation with the Department of Education, is authorized to
recommend a multicultural educational program, designed for the
students of the schools in this Commonwealth and for all other
residents thereof, with emphasis on foreign cultural and
language studies, as well as on the basic shared precepts and
principles of United States culture, in order to promote
cultural understanding and appreciation and to further good will
among all persons, without regard to race, color, familial
status, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation,
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gender identity or expression, national origin, handicap or
disability.
Section 7. Section 12(b) of the act is amended and the
section is amended by adding a subsection to read:
Section 12. Construction and Exclusiveness of Remedy.--* * *
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c), nothing contained
in this act shall be deemed to repeal or supersede any of the
provisions of any existing or hereafter adopted municipal
ordinance, municipal charter or of any law of this Commonwealth
relating to discrimination because of actual or perceived race,
color, familial status, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex,
sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national
origin or handicap or disability, but as to acts declared
unlawful by section five of this act the procedure herein
provided shall, when invoked, be exclusive and the final
determination therein shall exclude any other action, civil or
criminal, based on the same grievance of the complainant
concerned. If the complainant institutes any action based on
such grievance without resorting to the procedure provided in
this act, such complainant may not subsequently resort to the
procedure herein. In the event of a conflict between the
interpretation of a provision of this act and the interpretation
of a similar provision contained in any municipal ordinance, the
interpretation of the provision in this act shall apply to such
municipal ordinance.
* * *
(g) Nothing in this act shall prohibit an employer from
requiring an employe, during the employe's hours at work, to
adhere to reasonable dress or grooming standards not prohibited
by other provisions of Federal, State or local law, provided
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that the employer permits an employe to adhere to the dress or
grooming standards that are consistent with the employe's gender
identity or expression.
Section 8. This act shall take effect in 30 days.
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