Pennsylvania SB 1241: An Act providing for mandatory Statewide paid parental leave for eligible employees; establishing the Paid Parental Leave Account and the Small Business Grant Program; imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry; making an appropriation; and imposing penalties.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1533
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 1241
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY PISCIOTTANO, CAPPELLETTI, FONTANA, COMITTA,
HUGHES, SANTARSIERO, HAYWOOD, TARTAGLIONE, KANE, COSTA,
KEARNEY AND SAVAL, MARCH 23, 2026
REFERRED TO LABOR AND INDUSTRY, MARCH 23, 2026
AN ACT
Providing for mandatory Statewide paid parental leave for
eligible employees; establishing the Paid Parental Leave
Account and the Small Business Grant Program; imposing duties
on the Department of Labor and Industry; making an
appropriation; and imposing penalties.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1. Preliminary Provisions
Section 101. Short title.
Section 102. Definitions.
Chapter 3. Paid Parental Leave
Section 301. Employer obligation generally.
Section 302. Protections and rights.
Section 303. Amount of paid parental leave and benefits.
Section 304. Prohibitions.
Section 305. Notice.
Chapter 5. Administration and Enforcement
Section 501. Authorization.
Section 502. Complaints.
Section 503. Administrative penalties.
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Section 504. Paid Parental Leave Account.
Section 505. Civil actions by private parties.
Section 506. Civil actions by department.
Section 507. Limitation of civil actions.
Chapter 7. Small Business Grant Program
Section 701. Establishment of program.
Section 702. Application form.
Section 703. Guidelines.
Section 704. Appropriation.
Chapter 9. Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 901. Construction.
Section 902. Waiver prohibited.
Section 903. Regulations.
Section 904. Effective date.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
CHAPTER 1
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
Section 101. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Paid Parental
Leave Act.
Section 102. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Account." The Paid Parental Leave Account established under
section 504(a).
"Department." The Department of Labor and Industry of the
Commonwealth.
"Eligible employee." An individual who requests paid
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parental leave under this act from an employer and who has:
(1) been employed for at least 12 months by the
employer; and
(2) performed at least 1,250 hours of service with the
employer during the previous 12 months.
"Employer." As described in section 103 of the act of June
2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), known as the Workers' Compensation
Act.
"Family and Medical Leave Act." The Family and Medical Leave
Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-3, 29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.).
"Program." The Small Business Grant Program established
under section 701.
"Secretary." The Secretary of Labor and Industry of the
Commonwealth.
CHAPTER 3
PAID PARENTAL LEAVE
Section 301. Employer obligation generally.
An employer shall provide, in accordance with this act, not
fewer than 12 weeks of paid parental leave to an eligible
employee for the purpose of caring for a child of the eligible
employee during the first year after:
(1) the birth of the child to the eligible employee;
(2) the adoption of the child by the eligible employee;
or
(3) the placement of the child in foster care with the
eligible employee.
Section 302. Protections and rights.
An eligible employee who takes paid parental leave as
provided under section 301 is entitled to the same protections
and rights to which an eligible employee is entitled under the
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Family and Medical Leave Act, including protection from
discrimination and interference, the right to reinstatement and
the right to continuation of health care benefits.
Section 303. Amount of paid parental leave and benefits.
(a) Interplay with Federal law.--The amount of leave taken
by an eligible employee under this act during a 12-month period
shall be counted against the amount of leave to which the
eligible employee is entitled under the Family and Medical Leave
Act.
(b) Rate of pay.--An eligible employee entitled to paid
leave under this act shall be paid, during the period of leave,
the full rate of pay that the eligible employee received before
the period of leave commences or, if the rate of pay is based on
an hourly rate, the weekly average applicable during the four
weeks before the period of leave commences.
Section 304. Prohibitions.
An employer may not:
(1) Interfere with, restrain or deny the exercise of, or
attempt to interfere with, restrain or deny the exercise of,
any right provided under this chapter.
(2) Discharge, threaten to discharge, demote, suspend,
reduce the wages of or in any manner discriminate against an
employee for any of the following:
(i) Using paid parental leave or attempting to
exercise the right to use paid parental leave.
(ii) Filing a complaint under this act or alleging