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    Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission

    Policy and Law

    The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) enforces state laws that prohibit discrimination. 

    Rights, Laws and Regulations

    PHRA, PFEOA, and Regulations

    • The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA) covers discrimination in employment, housing, commercial property, education, and public accommodations. The PHRA has been amended many times since its adoption in 1955, originally as the Pennsylvania Fair Employment Practice Act. The PHRA:
      • Created the PHRC in the Governor's Office.
      • Defines the PHRC's functions, powers, and duties.
      • Provides for procedure and enforcement.
      • Provides for formulation of an educational program to prevent prejudice.
      • Provides for judicial review and enforcement and imposing penalties.
    • The Pennsylvania Fair Educational Opportunities Act (PFEOA) is specific to postsecondary education and secondary vocational and trade schools. The PFEOA:
      • Provides for procedure and enforcement.
      • Provides for judicial review.
      • Provides for administration by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission in the Department of Labor and Industry.

    New Regulations

    In 2023, The PHRC released new regulations, more clearly explaining the definitions of 'sex,' 'religious creed,' and 'race.’

    'Sex' includes:

    • Pregnancy status
    • Childbirth status
    • Breastfeeding status
    • Sex assigned at birth
    • Gender identity or expression
    • Affectional or sexual orientation
    • Differences in sex development

    Examples of  sex based discrimination:

    • Refusing to rent a property to someone because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
    • Firing a person because they are pregnant.
    • Creating school policies that could provide different treatment for students based on their sex.

    'Race' includes:

    • Traits associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles (it does not infringe on employers’ rights to implement workplace safety standards).

    Examples of hair discrimination:

    • Firing a person because of their hairstyle.
    • Creating company policies requiring employees to alter their hair outside of safety codes.
    • Creating school policies restricting how students can wear or treat their hair.

    'Religious Creed' includes:

    • All aspects of religious observance and practice, as well as belief.

    Following the Independent Regulatory Review Commission's approval in 2022, the PHRC's final-form regulations were approved by the PA Office of Attorney General and published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin  in June 2023.

    PHRA & PFEOA Amendments

    ​1956

    • Effect of retirement, pension, and insurance plans. Act of March 28, 1956, P.L. 1354.

    1961

    • Prohibition of discrimination in the selling, leasing, or financing of housing, and places of public accommodation. Act of February 28, 1961, P.L. 47.
    • Increase size of Commission from 9 to 11 members. Act of August 4, 1961, P.L. 922.

    1965

    • Issuance and posting of fair practices notices. Act of December 27, 1965, P.L. 1224.
    • Three Commissioners may act for hearing purposes. Act of December 27, 1965, P.L. 1225.

    1966

    • Local human relations commissions. Act of January 24, 1966, P.L. 1523.
    • Injunctions in housing complaints. Act of January 24, 1966, P.L. 1523.
    • Provisions of the Act extended to employers of six or more persons. Act of January 24, 1966, P.L. 1525.
    • Enforcement of Commission orders. Act of January 25, 1966, P.L. 1589.

    1967

    • Prohibition of discrimination in the leasing of housing to persons using guide dogs because of the blindness of the user. Act of August 11, 1967, P.L. 208.
    • Strengthening of injunction process in housing complaints. Act of October 11, 1967, P.L. 424.
    • Notification of licensing authorities. Act of October 11, 1967, P.L. 425.
    • Investigatory hearings to prevent racial tension. Act of October 11, 1967, P.L. 426.
    • Provisions of the Act extended to employers of four or more persons. Act of November 27, 1967, P.L. 622.
    • Broadening of prohibition against discrimination in housing. Act of November 29, 1967, P.L. 632.

    1968

    • Transfer of the Commission from the Department of Labor and Industry to the Governor's Office. Reorganization Plan No. 1, of 1968.
    • Religious observance by public employee. Act of July 20, 1968, P.L. 454.

    1969

    • Prohibition of discrimination because of sex. Act of July 9, 1969, P.L. 133.

    1970

    • Joint staffing of local human relations commission. Act of March 5, 1970, P.L. 133.
    • References to the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County were changed to Commonwealth Court by the Appellate Court Jurisdiction Act of 1970. Act of July 31, 1970, P.L. 673.
    • Non-sectarian cemeteries. Act of December 10, 1970, P.L. 882.

    1972

    • Prohibition of discrimination in places of public accommodation against any person using a guide dog because of the blindness of the user. Act of June 9, 1972, P.L. 368.

    1973

    • Protection of the right of hospitals and individuals not to engage in abortion or sterilization. Act of October 10, 1973, P.L. 278.

    1974

    • Prohibition of discrimination because of handicap or disability. Act of December 19, 1974, P.L. 966.

    1978

    • Prohibition of discrimination because of sex in places of public accommodation. Act of November 26, 1978, P.L. 1292.

    1980

    • Exemption of certain apprenticeship programs from the age provisions of the Act. Act No. 1 of 1980, P.L. 1.
    • Prohibition of discrimination against a person who has a general education development certificate as compared to a high school diploma. Act No. 198 of 1980, P.L. 1122.

    1982

    • Authorization to appoint hearing examiners to conduct public hearings. Act No. 247 of 1982, P.L. 1053.
    • Protection against age discrimination in employment broadened to cover persons 40 to 70, inclusive. Act No. 288 of 1982, P.L. 1267.

    1986

    • Reestablishment of Commission under the Sunset Act (Act of December 22, 1981); statute of limitations for filing complaints extended from 90 to 180 days; prohibition of certain real estate practices; miscellaneous amendments. Act No. 186 of 1986.

    1991

    • Reestablishment of Commission under the Sunset Act (Act of December 22, 1981); prohibition of discrimination because of familial status or age in housing and because of a known association with a handicapped or disabled person; strengthens handicap/disability accessibility requirements; prohibition of discrimination against independent contractors; provides out-of-pocket expenses in employment and public accommodations and damages, attorney fees and civil penalties in housing; changes and clarifications in court actions; strengthens injunction provisions; brings state law into conformance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and Fair Housing Act; technical amendments. Act No. 51 of 1991.

    1996

    • Revision of Commission authority over pupil school assignment; revised definition of housing for older persons. Act No. 117 of 1996.

    1997

    • Addition of various requirements involving housing advertisements, including authority to impose civil fines; various procedural changes to the Commission's case processing powers and duties. Act No. 34 of 1997.

    ​1965

    • Unfair practices by a religious education institution. Act of December 27, 1965, P.L. 1255.

    1972

    • Prohibition of discrimination because of sex. Act of December 29, 1972, P.L. 1682.

    1977

    • Deletion of institution from list of "state-aided" institutions. Act of August 5, 1977, P.L. 174.

    1992

    • Prohibition of discrimination because of handicap or disability; changes in procedures and other matters to be consistent with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. Act 187 of December 22, 1992, Act 1992-187.
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