GLASS Report: Legislative Action Alert: Regular Session 2015-2016: House Bill 383

Short Title: An Act amending the act of October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, further providing for findings and declaration of policy, for definitions and for unlawful discriminatory practices.

Prime Sponsor: Representative SNYDER

Last Action: Referred to LABOR AND INDUSTRY, Feb. 9, 2015 [House]

Memo: Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Based on Marital, Familial or Family Caregiver Status (former HB 2271)

Printer's No.: 420*

MEMORANDUM

Posted:            January 8, 2015 03:35 PM

From:   Representative Pam Snyder

To:       All House members

Subject:           Prohibiting Employment Discrimination Based on Marital, Familial or Family

Caregiver Status (former HB 2271)

In the very near future I will be re-introducing legislation (former HB 2271) amending the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act that is designed to prohibit employers from discriminating based on an applicant's marital, familial or family caregiver status.  Employers would be prohibited from asking job applicants if they have children, plan to have children, are married or are a caregiver.

There are instances in hiring where the best qualified applicant makes it to the final stages in the interview process only to be disqualified internally based on their response to these questions.

One’s marital status, whether they are planning to have children, or whether a person is a caregiver is irrelevant to the applicant’s ability to perform the functions of the job and are inappropriate questions to ask. 

This bill would make it unlawful for any employer to ask either in writing or verbally about the marital, parental or family caregiver status of any applicant of any gender.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation.