Pennsylvania HB 274: An Act amending the act of December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1), known as the Unemployment Compensation Law, in compensation, further providing for qualifications required to secure compensation and for ineligibility for compensation, providing for eligibility related to domestic violence and further providing for rate and amount of compensation.

Bill Text

SENATE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 218, 374, 1026,
2541, 2674 PRINTER'S NO. 2683
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 274
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY DAWKINS, GROVE, SHUSTERMAN, HARKINS, HILL-EVANS,
MARCELL, KHAN, POWELL, VENKAT, DEASY, McNEILL, CARROLL,
FREEMAN, SCHLOSSBERG, GIRAL, MAYES, HOWARD, CERRATO, SANCHEZ,
KENYATTA, WARREN, HOHENSTEIN, BOYD, K. HARRIS, MADSEN AND
GREEN, JANUARY 22, 2025
AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, IN SENATE, DECEMBER 9, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937
P.L.2897, No.1), entitled "An act establishing a system of
unemployment compensation to be administered by the
Department of Labor and Industry and its existing and newly
created agencies with personnel (with certain exceptions)
selected on a civil service basis; requiring employers to
keep records and make reports, and certain employers to pay
contributions based on payrolls to provide moneys for the
payment of compensation to certain unemployed persons;
providing procedure and administrative details for the
determination, payment and collection of such contributions
and the payment of such compensation; providing for
cooperation with the Federal Government and its agencies;
creating certain special funds in the custody of the State
Treasurer; and prescribing penalties," in compensation,
further providing for qualifications required to secure
compensation and for ineligibility for compensation,
providing for eligibility related to domestic violence and
further providing for rate and amount of compensation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 401(f) and 402(a) of the act of December
5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1), known as the
Unemployment Compensation Law, are amended to read:
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Section 401. Qualifications Required to Secure
Compensation.--Compensation shall be payable to any employe who
is or becomes unemployed, and who--
* * *
(f) Has earned, subsequent to his separation from work under
circumstances which are disqualifying under the provisions of
subsections 402(b), 402(e), 402(e.1), 402(h) and 402(k) of this
act, remuneration for services in an amount equal to or in
excess of [six (6)] ten (10) TWELVE (12) times his weekly
benefit rate in "employment" as defined in this act. The
provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a suspension of
work by an individual pursuant to a leave of absence granted by
his last employer, provided such individual has made a
reasonable effort to return to work with such employer upon the
expiration of his leave of absence.
* * *
Section 402. Ineligibility for Compensation.--An employe
shall be ineligible for compensation for any week--
(a) In which his unemployment is due to failure, without
good cause, either to apply for suitable work at such time and
in such manner as the department may prescribe, or to accept
suitable work when offered to him by the employment office or by
any employer, irrespective of whether or not such work is in
"employment" as defined in this act: Provided, That such
employer notifies the employment office of such offer within
seven (7) days after the making thereof; however this subsection
shall not cause a disqualification of a waiting week or benefits
under the following circumstances: when work is offered by his
employer and he is not required to accept the offer pursuant to
the terms of the labor-management contract or agreement, or
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pursuant to an established employer plan, program or policy:
Provided further, That a claimant shall not be disqualified for
refusing suitable work when he is in training approved under
section 236(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974[.]: Provided further,
that the following apply:
(1) A claimant shall make a good faith effort to obtain
employment in suitable work. A claimant who has applied for a
position may not take any action to unreasonably discourage the
claimant's own hire in suitable work , including any of the
following:
(i) Refusing to attend or failing to participate , without
good cause, in a job interview or other applicant selection
activity offered by the employer.
(ii) Refusing employment, or a referral for employment,
without good cause, prior to an interview or a discussion of the
details of a job with the employer.
(2) Within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this
clause, the department shall create forms or update existing
forms to enable employers to report claimants who discourage
their own hire, as provided in this subsection. The forms shall
include notice of the provisions of section 802 of this act.
(3) A claimant who unreasonably discourages the claimant's
own hire in suitable work shall be considered to have refused an
offer of work for purposes of this subsection.
(4) ANY OVERPAYMENT THAT RESULT