HB 603 — An Act amending the act of December 12, 1986 (P.L.1559, No.169), known as the Whistleblower Law, further providing for remedies and for enforcement.

PRINTER'S NO.   611

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 603
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY ISAACSON, BURGOS, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, CERRATO, DALEY,
        DONAHUE, FREEMAN, GREEN, HILL-EVANS, KHAN, SANCHEZ AND
        STEELE, FEBRUARY 12, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 12, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of December 12, 1986 (P.L.1559, No.169),
 2      entitled "An act providing protection for employees who
 3      report a violation or suspected violation of State, local or
 4      Federal law; providing protection for employees who
 5      participate in hearings, investigations, legislative
 6      inquiries or court actions; and prescribing remedies and
 7      penalties," further providing for remedies and for
 8      enforcement.
 9      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
10   hereby enacts as follows:
11      Section 1.    Sections 4(a) and 5 of the act of December 12,
12   1986 (P.L.1559, No.169), known as the Whistleblower Law, are
13   amended to read:
14   Section 4.   Remedies.
15      (a)   Civil action.--A person who alleges a violation of this
16   act may bring a civil action in a court of competent
17   jurisdiction, with a right of trial by jury, for appropriate
18   injunctive relief or damages, or both, within [180 days] two
19   years after the occurrence of the alleged violation.
20      * * *
 1   Section 5.     Enforcement.
 2      (a)     Relief that may be ordered.--
 3            (1)   A court or jury, in rendering a judgment in an
 4      action brought under this act, shall order, as the court or
 5      jury considers appropriate, reinstatement of the employee,
 6      the payment of back wages, full reinstatement of fringe
 7      benefits and seniority rights, actual damages or any
 8      combination of these remedies.
 9            (2)   A court or jury shall also award the complainant all
10      or a portion of the costs of litigation, including reasonable
11      attorney fees and witness fees, if the complainant prevails
12      in the civil action.
13      (b)     Punitive damages.--The complainant may also recover
14   punitive damages if the complainant demonstrates that the
15   defendant engaged in an unlawful retaliatory or discriminatory
16   practice in violation of section 3 with malice or reckless
17   indifference to the rights of the complainant protected under
18   this act.
19      Section 2.     The amendment of sections 4(a) and 5 of the act
20   shall not be construed to affect an action or proceeding
21   commenced or right accrued before the effective date of this
22   section.
23      Section 3.     This act shall take effect in 90 days.




20250HB0603PN0611                    - 2 -