Pennsylvania HB 1995: 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 rate and amount of compensation.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2516
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1995
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY DAWKINS, OCTOBER 24, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND INDUSTRY, OCTOBER 24, 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 rate and amount of compensation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 404(e)(2)(v) and (vi) 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:
Section 404. Rate and Amount of Compensation.--* * *
(e) * * *
(2) * * *
(v) If, on July 1, [2025] 2027, the trigger percentage
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determined under section 301.7(a) is less than two hundred fifty
per centum (250%), the following shall apply:
(A) Notwithstanding the definition of "highest quarterly
wages" in subsection (b), but subject to subclause (vi),
"highest quarterly wages" for purposes of this section for
calendar years [2026] 2028 and thereafter shall be the average
of the total wages (computed to the nearest dollar), which were
paid to the employe computed as follows:
(I) The wages paid to the employe in that calendar quarter
in which such total wages were highest during the base year
shall be calculated.
(II) The amount calculated under division (I) shall be added
to an amount equal to one hundred thirty per centum (130%) of
the wages paid to the employe in the calendar quarter in which
such total wages were the second highest of any calendar quarter
during the base year, provided that the amount added under this
division (II) may not be greater than the wages paid to the
employe during the highest calendar quarter under division (I).
(III) The sum calculated under division (II) shall be
divided by two.
(B) Notwithstanding section 401(a)(2), and except as
provided in subsections (a)(3) and (e)(1) and (2), section
401(a) shall require that the second entry in Part A of the
table for the determination of rate and amount of benefits, on
the line on which there appears the employe's weekly benefit
rate, does not exceed sixty-three per centum (63%) of the
employe's total base year wages.
(vi) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) and
subclause (v) if, on July 1, [2026] 2028, or July 1 of any
subsequent year, the trigger percentage determined under section
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301.7(a) is at least two hundred fifty per centum (250%), the
following shall apply:
(A) "Highest quarterly wages" for the subsequent calendar
year and thereafter shall be determined as provided in
subsection (b) and not as provided in subclause (v).
(B) Section 401(a)(2) shall apply and not subclause (v)(B).
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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