Pennsylvania HB 1781: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, providing for Commonwealth grantee employment verification; establishing the Commonwealth Grantee Employment Verification Account; and imposing penalties.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2190
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1781
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY BARGER, M. MACKENZIE, SMITH, KRUPA, KAUFFMAN,
BERNSTINE, GLEIM, ZIMMERMAN, FINK, ROWE, DAVANZO AND WALSH,
AUGUST 4, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, AUGUST 4, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), entitled
"An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct of the
executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth by the
Executive Department thereof and the administrative
departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof,
including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or
Teachers Colleges; abolishing, creating, reorganizing or
authorizing the reorganization of certain administrative
departments, boards, and commissions; defining the powers and
duties of the Governor and other executive and administrative
officers, and of the several administrative departments,
boards, commissions, and officers; fixing the salaries of the
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and certain other executive
and administrative officers; providing for the appointment of
certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and
other assistants and employes in certain departments, boards,
and commissions; providing for judicial administration; and
prescribing the manner in which the number and compensation
of the deputies and all other assistants and employes of
certain departments, boards and commissions shall be
determined," providing for Commonwealth grantee employment
verification; establishing the Commonwealth Grantee
Employment Verification Account; and imposing penalties.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known
as The Administrative Code of 1929, is amended by adding an
article to read:
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ARTICLE XXIV-D
COMMONWEALTH GRANTEE EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION
Section 2401-D. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Account." The Commonwealth Grantee Employment Verification
Account established under section 2407-D(a).
"Commonwealth agency." As follows:
(1) An office, department, authority, board, multistate
agency or commission of the executive branch, an independent
agency and a State-affiliated entity.
(2) The term includes:
(i) The Governor's Office.
( ii) The Office of Attorney General.
(iii) The Department of the Auditor General.
(iv) The Treasury Department.
(v) An organization that is:
(A) established by the Constitution of
Pennsylvania, a statute or an executive order; and
(B) performs or is intended to perform an
essential governmental function.
(3) The term does not include a judicial agency or
legislative agency.
"Department." The Department of General Services of the
Commonwealth.
"Employee." An individual hired by a grantee, contractor or
subcontractor, for whom the grantee, contractor or subcontractor
is required by law to file a Form W-2 with the Internal Revenue
Service.
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"EVP." The E-Verify Program operated by the Department of
Homeland Security that electronically verifies employment
eligibility for employees.
"Grantee." A person that receives a State grant.
"Grantor agency." A Commonwealth agency that awards a State
grant to a grantee.
"Judicial agency." A court of this Commonwealth or an
agency, authority, board, commission, office or similar entity
of the unified judicial system.
"Legislative agency." The General Assembly or an agency,
authority, board, commission, office or similar entity of the
General Assembly.
"Procurement." As defined in 62 Pa.C.S. § 103 (relating to
definitions).
"State grant." As follows:
(1) A grant that:
(i) is authorized by a law of this Commonwealth; and
(ii) will be used to pay, in whole or in part, the
wages of an employee of a grantee, contractor or
subcontractor.
(2) The term does not include:
(i) A tax benefit.
(ii) A tax credit.
(iii) A procurement.
(iv) Money appropriated or transferred for a purpose
other than a State grant.
"Subcontractor." As follows:
(1) A person, regardless of tier, that performs work or
provides services that will be paid for, in whole or in part,
with money from a State grant.
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(2) The term includes a staffing agency.
(3) The term does not include:
(i) An individual.
(ii) A supplier of materials or equipment purchased
with money from a State grant.
"Tax benefit." As defined in section 1701-A.1 of the act of
March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of
1971.
"Tax credit." As defined in section 1701-A.1 of the Tax
Reform Code of 1971.
"Willful violation." Action or conduct undert