SB1267 amends the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to change the procedure for filing and enforcing discrimination complaints. The bill increases the maximum civil penalties the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission may assess against respondents found to have engaged in discriminatory practices, raising the first-offense cap from $10,000 to $26,262, the second-offense cap from $25,000 to $65,653, and the multiple-offense cap from $50,000 to $131,308. It also adds an annual inflation adjustment tied to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), with updated penalty amounts taking effect each July 1 and being published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
The bill also extends the deadline for filing a discrimination complaint under this section from 180 days to 365 days after the alleged discriminatory act, unless a different deadline is required under the Fair Housing Act. In practical terms, this gives complainants more time to bring claims before the Commission while also increasing the financial exposure for respondents found liable for discrimination. The measure takes effect 60 days after enactment.
Impact
SB1267 would amend Section 9 of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, directly affecting the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission’s enforcement authority, complaint-filing deadlines, and civil penalty schedule. It would increase statutory penalty ceilings, require annual CPI-based inflation adjustments to those penalties, and lengthen the general administrative filing window for discrimination complaints from 180 to 365 days. The bill primarily affects employers, housing-related respondents, labor organizations, employment agencies, and other entities subject to the Act, as well as individuals alleging discrimination.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the overall sentiment appears supportive of stronger civil rights enforcement and expanded access to the complaint process. The bill’s sponsors are from the Democratic caucus, and the changes suggest an intent to make penalties more meaningful and to give complainants more time to file. No contrary arguments, amendments, or recorded opposition are provided in the available materials.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are the higher civil penalties and the longer filing deadline. Supporters are likely to view these changes as necessary to deter discrimination and account for inflation, while opponents may argue that the increased penalties are too punitive or that extending the filing period could create greater uncertainty and litigation exposure for respondents. The bill also preserves a shorter or different deadline where the Fair Housing Act applies, which may limit disputes in housing cases but leaves the general administrative deadline change as the central issue.
Further providing for procedure; providing for reimbursement against wrongful claims; further providing for construction and exclusiveness of remedy; repealing provisions relating to local human relations commissions; and prohibiting local human relations commissions.
Further providing for definitions; prohibiting use of criminal history and retaliation relating to use of criminal history; providing for notice to prospective occupants and tenants relating to use of criminal history and for exclusions and other legal requirements relating to use of criminal history; and further providing for procedure and for civil penalties.