HB 85 — An Act amending the act of October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, further providing for unlawful discriminatory practices; and providing for unlawful discriminatory practices against certain religions.

PRINTER'S NO.   68

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 85
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY MARCELL, WHITE, GREINER AND KUZMA,
        JANUARY 14, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 14, 2025


                                    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 unlawful discriminatory practices; and
12      providing for unlawful discriminatory practices against
13      certain religions.
14      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
15   hereby enacts as follows:
16      Section 1.    Section 5 introductory paragraph of the act of
17   October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania
18   Human Relations Act, is amended to read:
19      Section 5.    Unlawful Discriminatory Practices.--[It] Subject
20   to section 5.4, it shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice,
21   unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification, or in
22   the case of a fraternal corporation or association, unless based
23   upon membership in such association or corporation, or except
 1   where based upon applicable security regulations established by
 2   the United States or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:
 3      * * *
 4      Section 2.   The act is amended by adding a section to read:
 5      Section 5.4.    Unlawful Discriminatory Practices Against
 6   Certain Religions.--For purposes of section 5, with regard to
 7   the Jewish faith, unlawful discriminatory practices based on
 8   religious creed:
 9      (a)   Shall include:
10      (1)   The definition of "antisemitism" adopted on May 26,
11   2016, by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and
12   used by the United States Department of State.
13      (2)   Contemporary examples of antisemitism identified by the
14   International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance on the effective
15   date of this paragraph.
16      (b)   Do not include criticism of Israel similar to that
17   leveled against any other country.
18      Section 3.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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