Pennsylvania HB 2585: An Act amending Title 63 (Professions and Occupations (State Licensed)) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for licensing for individuals with a criminal conviction and for occupational licensing for low-income individuals.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 3495
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2585
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY DOUGHERTY, PROBST, WAXMAN, GIRAL, GALLAGHER,
GUZMAN, FIEDLER, OTTEN, HOHENSTEIN, MAZZOCCO, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
RIVERA, INGLIS, NEILSON, SANCHEZ, CURRY AND FLEMING,
JUNE 1, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND INDUSTRY, JUNE 2, 2026
AN ACT
Amending the act of January 17, 1968 (P.L.11, No.5), entitled
"An act establishing a fixed minimum wage and overtime rates
for employes, with certain exceptions; providing for minimum
rates for learners and apprentices; creating a Minimum Wage
Advisory Board and defining its powers and duties; conferring
powers and imposing duties upon the Department of Labor and
Industry; imposing duties on employers; and providing
penalties," further providing for minimum wages.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 4(d) and (e) of the act of January 17,
1968 (P.L.11, No.5), known as The Minimum Wage Act of 1968, are
amended to read:
Section 4. Minimum Wages.--Except as may otherwise be
provided under this act:
* * *
[(d) An employe whose earning capacity is impaired by
physical or mental deficiency or injury may be paid less than
the applicable minimum wage if either a license specifying a
wage rate commensurate with the employe's productive capacity
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has been obtained by the employer from the secretary or a
Federal certificate is obtained under section 14(c) of the Fair
Labor Standards Act of 1938 (52 Stat. 1060, 29 U.S.C. § 201 et
seq.). A license obtained from the secretary shall be granted
only upon joint application of employer and employe.]
(e) In lieu of the minimum wage prescribed in subsection (a)
and section 5(c) and notwithstanding [subsections (b) and (d),]
subsection (b), an employer may, during the first sixty calendar
days when an employe under the age of twenty years is initially
employed, pay the employe training wages at a rate of not less
than the minimum wage set forth in section 6(a) of the Fair
Labor Standards Act (29 U.S.C. § 206(a)). A person employed at
the training wage under this subsection shall be informed of the
amount of the training wage and the right to receive the full
minimum wage, or a higher wage, upon completion of the training
period. No employer may take any action to displace existing
employes, including partial displacements such as reduction in
the hours, wages or employment benefits of existing employes,
for purposes of hiring individuals at the training wage
authorized by this subsection.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20260HB2585PN3495 - 2 -
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