Pennsylvania SB 679: An Act amending the act of November 26, 1978 (P.L.1375, No.325), known as the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act, further providing for definitions; and providing for programs for removing obstructions and flood-related hazards on streams.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 678
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 679
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY L. WILLIAMS, COMITTA, HAYWOOD, COSTA, PISCIOTTANO,
FONTANA, HUGHES, TARTAGLIONE, CAPPELLETTI AND SAVAL,
APRIL 28, 2025
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, APRIL 28, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in preliminary provisions, providing
for minimum hourly wage or living wage for education support
professionals; in duties and powers of boards of school
directors, further providing for majority vote required and
recording; and imposing duties on the Department of Labor and
Industry.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 135. Minimum Hourly Wage or Living Wage for
Education Support Professionals.--(a) Beginning in the 2025-
2026 school year:
(1) An education support professional shall be paid a
minimum hourly wage of not less than twenty dollars ($20) per
hour or the living wage determined under subsection (f),
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whichever is greater.
(2) For overtime hours, an education support professional
shall be paid not less than one and one-half (1 1/2) times the
amount that the education support professional is paid under
paragraph (1).
(3) For an education support professional paid on a salaried
basis, salary shall be compared to hours worked in two-week
periods to ensure that the education support professional is
paid not less than required under this section.
(b) This section shall not be construed to require the
modification, renegotiation or reopening of an agreement or
employment contract in effect on the effective date of this
subsection. Subject to subsection (c), the salary schedule or
any other terms of the agreement or employment contract are not
superseded or modified by this section.
(c) Notwithstanding subsection (b), beginning in the 2025-
2026 school year and during the term of any agreement or
employment contract in effect on the effective date of this
subsection, through and including the 2029-2030 school year, a
public school entity shall make a supplemental wage payment to
each education support professional who is entitled to a wage
that is lower than the minimum hourly wage or living wage
required under subsection (a). The supplemental wage payment
shall be in an amount equal to the number of hours worked by the
education support professional during the school year multiplied
by the difference between the minimum hourly wage or living wage
required under subsection (a) and the lower wage to which the
education support professional is entitled under the terms of
the agreement or employment contract in effect on the effective
date of this section, which shall not be lower than the wage
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that the education support professional received for the
immediately preceding school year.
(d) A public school entity shall be entitled to receive a
payment under subsection (g) if the public school entity:
(1) makes a supplemental wage payment under subsection (c)
in any school year from 2025-2026 through 2029-2030, inclusive;
(2) on or after the effective date of this subsection,
enters into an agreement or employment contract meeting the
requirements of subsection (e) for the 2025-2026 school year; or
(3) is operating under a period of status quo during the
2025-2026 school year following the expiration of an agreement.
(e) An employment contract or an agreement negotiated by a
public school entity and an employe organization under the
Public Employe Relations Act, on or after the effective date of
this subsection, shall not provide for a wage lower than
provided for under subsection (a). A provision in an agreement
or employment contract in effect on the effective date of this
section that provides for a wage in conflict with subsection (a)
shall be discontinued in a new or renewed agreement or
employment contract or during the period of status quo following
the expiration of an agreement.
(f) The following apply regarding the living wage:
(1) Within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this
paragraph, the Department of Labor and Industry shall:
(i) Determine the living wage applicable to each public
school entity in this Commonwealth.
(ii) Post the living wage described in subparagraph (i) on
the publicly accessible Internet website of the Department of
Labor and Industry.
(2) Beginning one year after the effective date of this
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