HB 2171 — An Act amending the act of October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, further providing for powers and duties of the commission.

PRINTER'S NO.   2828

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 2171
                                               Session of
                                                 2026

     INTRODUCED BY FRIEL, SCOTT, SALISBURY, HOHENSTEIN, KAZEEM,
        WAXMAN, VENKAT, SHUSTERMAN, PIELLI, KENYATTA, SAPPEY,
        SANCHEZ, HOWARD, FIEDLER, KINKEAD, O'MARA, OTTEN, RIVERA,
        HANBIDGE, KRAJEWSKI, WARREN, MAYES, HILL-EVANS, MALAGARI,
        BOYD, D. WILLIAMS, BELLMON, BOROWSKI AND CARROLL,
        JANUARY 29, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JANUARY 30, 2026


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), entitled
 2      "An act prohibiting certain practices of discrimination
 3      because of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age or
 4      national origin by employers, employment agencies, labor
 5      organizations and others as herein defined; creating the
 6      Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission in the Governor's
 7      Office; defining its functions, powers and duties; providing
 8      for procedure and enforcement; providing for formulation of
 9      an educational program to prevent prejudice; providing for
10      judicial review and enforcement and imposing penalties,"
11      further providing for powers and duties of the commission.
12      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
13   hereby enacts as follows:
14      Section 1.    Section 7 of the act of October 27, 1955
15   (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania Human Relations
16   Act, is amended by adding a clause to read:
17      Section 7.    Powers and Duties of the Commission.--The
18   Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
19      * * *
20      (r)   To receive a complaint of any civil right or civil
 1   liberty violation committed by an agent of United States
 2   Immigration and Customs Enforcement or an agent of a Federal,
 3   State or local law enforcement agency cooperating with United
 4   States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the enforcement of
 5   immigration law. A complaint may be filed with the Commission by
 6   an individual who has been the subject of or witnessed a civil
 7   right or civil liberty violation committed in this Commonwealth
 8   by an agent of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
 9   or an agent of a Federal, State or local law enforcement agency
10   cooperating with United States Immigration and Customs
11   Enforcement in the enforcement of immigration law. A complaint
12   of a civil right or civil liberty violation received under this
13   subsection may be referred to the Attorney General or the county
14   district attorney with jurisdiction over the county where the
15   violation occurred.
16      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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