HB 849 — An Act providing for nondisclosure agreements relating to sexual harassment.
Last action — Referred to LABOR AND INDUSTRY
-
✓Introduced
-
✓In Committee
-
3Passed House
-
4Passed Senate
-
5To Executive
-
6Enacted
This bill died with 2019-2020 Regular Session. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
26 added · 31 removedPlain-language change summary
The recent amendments to Bill HB 849 clarify and strengthen protections for employees regarding sexual harassment. Most notably, the language now ensures that employees cannot be forced to sign agreements that prevent them from reporting sexual harassment or participating in investigations. This change is important as it supports a safer workplace environment by allowing victims to speak out without fear of retaliation or restriction. Additionally, any violations of these protections in future agreements will be deemed unenforceable, reinforcing the bill's intent to prioritize employee rights.
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
949 PRINTER'STHE NO.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.
2008849 THE2019 GENERALINTRODUCED ASSEMBLYBY OFKLUNK, PENNSYLVANIACEPHAS, HOUSETOEPEL, BILLOBERLANDER, SessionKRUEGER, ofSAPPEY, No.HILL-EVANS, KINSEY, ROTHMAN, KIRKLAND, DELOZIER, SOLOMON, FREEMAN, DONATUCCI, BULLOCK, SCHLOSSBERG, FRANKEL, MURT, RYAN, STEPHENS, MEHAFFIE, ECKER AND DEASY, MARCH 14, 2019 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND INDUSTRY, MARCH 14, 2019 AN ACT Providing for nondisclosure agreements relating to sexual harassment.
849 2019 INTRODUCED BY KLUNK, CEPHAS, TOEPEL, OBERLANDER, KRUEGER, SAPPEY, HILL-EVANS, KINSEY, ROTHMAN, KIRKLAND, DELOZIER, SOLOMON, FREEMAN, DONATUCCI, BULLOCK, SCHLOSSBERG, FRANKEL, MURT, RYAN, STEPHENS, MEHAFFIE, ECKER, DEASY, MULLINS, MOUL AND GILLEN, MARCH 14, 2019 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND INDUSTRY, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 4, 2019 AN ACT Providing for nondisclosure agreements relating to sexual harassment.
(a) Involuntary agreements.--An employer may not require any employee or prospective employee, as a condition of employment, to sign an agreement or waiver that does either of the <-- following:
(1) ProhibitsProhibits, PROHIBITS, prevents or otherwise restricts <-- the employee or prospective employee from opposing, disclosing, reporting or participating in an investigation of sexual harassment.
(2) Except as otherwise permitted by Federal or State <-- law, purports to waive a substantive or procedural right or remedy available to the employee with respect to a claim of sexual harassment.
(b) Voluntary agreements.--Nothing in subsection (a) shall 20190HB0849PN200820190HB0849PN0949 - 2 - be construed to prohibit an employer, employee or prospective employee from:
<-- (1) Voluntarily entering into an agreement or waiver prohibited involuntarily under subsection (a).
(2) Voluntarily VOLUNTARILY entering into a settlement <-- agreement with a nondisclosure provision agreed to by each party as part of the settlement of a SEXUAL HARASSMENT CLAIM, <-- complaint or proceeding.
(c) Settlement agreements.--An agreement to settle a claim <-- of sexual harassment may not contain terms which prohibit, prevent or otherwise restrict the employee from working for the employer or any parent company, subsidiary, division or affiliate of the employer.
(d) (C) Void agreementsagreements.--Any AGREEMENT PROVISION.--Any provision <-- of an agreement or waiver signed after the effective date of this section which violates any provision of this act shall be SEVEREDvoid FROMand THEunenforceable. REMAINDER OF THE AGREEMENT.
THE SEVERED <-- PROVISION SHALL BE void and unenforceable.
<--20190HB0849PN0949 SECTION- 4.3 -
EFFECTIVE DATE.
<-- THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IN 60 DAYS.
20190HB0849PN2008 - 3 -
Amendments
1 amendmentClick Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.
Action History
-
Referred to LABOR AND INDUSTRY
-
Third consideration and final passage
-
Re-reported as committed
-
Re-committed to APPROPRIATIONS
-
Second consideration
-
Re-reported as committed
-
Re-committed to RULES
-
First consideration
-
PN 2008 Reported as amended
-
PN 0949 Referred to LABOR AND INDUSTRY
Sponsors
- Mary Jo Daley · Cosponsor
- Tina M. Davis · Cosponsor
- Nathan Davidson · Cosponsor
- Torren Ecker · Cosponsor
- Kate A. Klunk · Primary
- Morgan Cephas · Cosponsor
- Toepel · Cosponsor
- Leanne Krueger · Cosponsor
- Christina D. Sappey · Cosponsor
- Carol Hill-Evans · Cosponsor
- Greg Rothman · Cosponsor
- Kirkland · Cosponsor
- Sheryl M. Delozier · Cosponsor
- Jared G. Solomon · Cosponsor
- Robert Freeman · Cosponsor
- Donatucci · Cosponsor
- Michael H. Schlossberg · Cosponsor
- Dan Frankel · Cosponsor
- Murt · Cosponsor
- Ryan · Cosponsor
- Stephens · Cosponsor
- Thomas L. Mehaffie · Cosponsor
- Daniel J. Deasy · Cosponsor
- Kyle J. Mullins · Cosponsor
- Dan Moul · Cosponsor
- Mark M. Gillen · Cosponsor
- Danielle Friel Otten · Cosponsor
- Christopher M. Rabb · Cosponsor
- Joe Webster · Cosponsor
- Donna Bullock · Cosponsor
- Stephen Kinsey · Cosponsor
- Donna Oberlander · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 31 co-sponsors · 221 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Kate A. Klunk Republican
Co-sponsors (31)
- Mary Jo Daley Democratic
- Tina M. Davis Democratic
- Nathan Davidson Democratic
- Torren Ecker
- Morgan Cephas Democratic
- Toepel
- Leanne Krueger Democratic
- Christina D. Sappey Democratic
- Carol Hill-Evans Democratic
- Greg Rothman Republican
- Kirkland
- Sheryl M. Delozier Republican
- Jared G. Solomon Democratic
- Robert Freeman Democratic
- Donatucci
- Michael H. Schlossberg Democratic
- Dan Frankel Democratic
- Murt
- Ryan
- Stephens
- Thomas L. Mehaffie Republican
- Daniel J. Deasy Democratic
- Kyle J. Mullins Democratic
- Dan Moul Republican
- Mark M. Gillen Republican
- Danielle Friel Otten Democratic
- Christopher M. Rabb Democratic
- Joe Webster Democratic
- Donna Bullock
- Stephen Kinsey
- Donna Oberlander
Not signed on (221)
221 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 221 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 91 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Republican | 54 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Democratic | 54 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 199 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| % of votes cast | 99% | 0% | 0% | 1% |
How each member voted (202)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| BARRAR | — | Yea |
| BOBACK | — | Yea |
| BROWN | — | Yea |
| COX | — | Yea |
| DIGIROLAMO | — | Yea |
| DOWLING | — | Yea |
| DUNBAR | — | Yea |
| EVERETT | — | Yea |
| GABLER | — | Yea |
| GILLESPIE | — | Yea |
| GREGORY | — | Yea |
| HAHN | — | Yea |
| HELM | — | Yea |
| HENNESSEY | — | Yea |
| HERSHEY | — | Yea |
| HICKERNELL | — | Yea |
| JONES | — | Yea |
| JOZWIAK | — | Yea |
| KAUFER | — | Yea |
| KELLER, M.K. | — | Yea |
| KNOWLES | — | Yea |
| LEWIS | — | Yea |
| MARSHALL | — | Yea |
| MASSER | — | Yea |
| METCALFE | — | Yea |
| MILLARD | — | Yea |
| MIZGORSKI | — | Yea |
| MURT | — | Yea |
| NELSON | — | Yea |
| NESBIT | — | Yea |
| OBERLANDER | — | Yea |
| PEIFER | — | Yea |
| POLINCHOCK | — | Yea |
| PUSKARIC | — | Yea |
| PYLE | — | Yea |
| QUINN | — | Not Voting |
| REESE | — | Yea |
| RYAN | — | Yea |
| SANKEY | — | Yea |
| SAYLOR | — | Yea |
| SCHEMEL | — | Yea |
| SCHROEDER | — | Yea |
| SIMMONS | — | Yea |
| SONNEY | — | Yea |
| STEPHENS | — | Yea |
| THOMAS | — | Yea |
| TOBASH | — | Yea |
| TOEPEL | — | Yea |
| TOOHIL | — | Yea |
| WHEELAND | — | Yea |
| BOYLE | — | Yea |
| BULLOCK | — | Yea |
| CALTAGIRONE | — | Yea |
| CRUZ | — | Yea |
| DELISSIO | — | Yea |
| DELUCA | — | Yea |
| DERMODY | — | Yea |
| DONATUCCI | — | Yea |
| DRISCOLL | — | Not Voting |
| EVANS | — | Yea |
| FITZGERALD | — | Yea |
| GAINEY | — | Yea |
| GALLOWAY | — | Yea |
| GOODMAN | — | Yea |
| HARRELL | — | Yea |
| HARRIS | — | Yea |
| INNAMORATO | — | Yea |
| KINSEY | — | Yea |
| KIRKLAND | — | Yea |
| KORTZ | — | Yea |
| LEE | — | Yea |
| LONGIETTI | — | Yea |
| MCCARTER | — | Yea |
| MULLERY | — | Yea |
| PETRARCA | — | Yea |
| RAVENSTAHL | — | Yea |
| READSHAW | — | Yea |
| ROEBUCK | — | Yea |
| ROZZI | — | Yea |
| SAINATO | — | Yea |
| SIMS | — | Yea |
| SNYDER | — | Yea |
| STURLA | — | Yea |
| ULLMAN | — | Yea |
| WHEATLEY | — | Yea |
| WILLIAMS | — | Yea |
| YOUNGBLOOD | — | Yea |
| ZABEL | — | Yea |
| TURZAI | — | Yea |
| Dan Miller | — | Yea |
| Louis Schmitt | — | Yea |
| Seth Grove | — | Yea |
| Torren Ecker | — | Yea |
| Andre D. Carroll | Democratic | Yea |
| Anita Astorino Kulik | Democratic | Yea |
| Benjamin V. Sanchez | Democratic | Yea |
| Brandon J. Markosek | Democratic | Yea |
| Bridget M. Kosierowski | Democratic | Yea |
| Carolyn T. Comitta | Democratic | Yea |
| Christina D. Sappey | Democratic | Yea |
| Christopher M. Rabb | Democratic | Yea |
| Dan Frankel | Democratic | Yea |
| Daniel J. Deasy | Democratic | Yea |
| Danielle Friel Otten | Democratic | Yea |
| Danilo Burgos | Democratic | Yea |
| David M. Delloso | Democratic | Yea |
| Ed Neilson | Democratic | Yea |
| Eddie Day Pashinski | Democratic | Yea |
| Elizabeth Fiedler | Democratic | Yea |
| Frank Burns | Democratic | Yea |
| Greg Vitali | Democratic | Yea |
| Jared G. Solomon | Democratic | Yea |
| Jason Dawkins | Democratic | Yea |
| Jeanne McNeill | Democratic | Yea |
| Jennifer O'Mara | Democratic | Yea |
| Joanna E. McClinton | Democratic | Yea |
| Joe Ciresi | Democratic | Yea |
| Joe Webster | Democratic | Yea |
| Joseph C. Hohenstein | Democratic | Yea |
| Kristine C. Howard | Democratic | Yea |
| Kyle J. Mullins | Democratic | Yea |
| Leanne Krueger | Democratic | Yea |
| Liz Hanbidge | Democratic | Yea |
| Malcolm Kenyatta | Democratic | Yea |
| Marty Flynn | Democratic | Yea |
| Mary Jo Daley | Democratic | Yea |
| MaryLouise Isaacson | Democratic | Yea |
| Matthew D. Bradford | Democratic | Yea |
| Maureen E. Madden | Democratic | Yea |
| Melissa L. Shusterman | Democratic | Yea |
| Michael H. Schlossberg | Democratic | Yea |
| Morgan Cephas | Democratic | Yea |
| Nathan Davidson | Democratic | Yea |
| Patrick J. Harkins | Democratic | Yea |
| Patty Kim | Democratic | Yea |
| Perry S. Warren | Democratic | Yea |
| Peter Schweyer | Democratic | Yea |
| Robert E. Merski | Democratic | Yea |
| Robert F. Matzie | Democratic | Yea |
| Robert Freeman | Democratic | Yea |
| Ryan A. Bizzarro | Democratic | Yea |
| Scott Conklin | Democratic | Yea |
| Steve Samuelson | Democratic | Yea |
| Steven R. Malagari | Democratic | Yea |
| Tim Briggs | Democratic | Yea |
| Tina M. Davis | Democratic | Yea |
| Tina M. Davis | Democratic | Yea |
| Aaron Bernstine | Republican | Yea |
| Barbara Gleim | Republican | Yea |
| Brad Roae | Republican | Yea |
| Brett R. Miller | Republican | Yea |
| Bryan Cutler | Republican | Yea |
| Bud Cook | Republican | Yea |
| Carl Walker Metzgar | Republican | Yea |
| Clint Owlett | Republican | Yea |
| Craig T. Staats | Republican | Yea |
| Cris Dush | Republican | Yea |
| Dan Moul | Republican | Yea |
| David H. Zimmerman | Republican | Yea |
| David M. Maloney | Republican | Yea |
| Dawn W. Keefer | Republican | Yea |
| Doyle Heffley | Republican | Yea |
| Frank A. Farry | Republican | Yea |
| Gary W. Day | Republican | Yea |
| Greg Rothman | Republican | Yea |
| Jack Rader | Republican | Yea |
| James B. Struzzi | Republican | Yea |
| Jamie Walsh | Republican | Yea |
| Jason Ortitay | Republican | Yea |
| Jesse Topper | Republican | Yea |
| Jim Rigby | Republican | Yea |
| Joe Emrick | Republican | Yea |
| John A. Lawrence | Republican | Yea |
| Jonathan Fritz | Republican | Yea |
| Joshua D. Kail | Republican | Yea |
| Kate A. Klunk | Republican | Yea |
| Kathy L. Rapp | Republican | Yea |
| Keith J. Greiner | Republican | Yea |
| Kerry A. Benninghoff | Republican | Yea |
| Lynda Schlegel Culver | Republican | Yea |
| Marci Mustello | Republican | Yea |
| Mark M. Gillen | Republican | Yea |
| Martin T. Causer | Republican | Yea |
| Martina A. White | Republican | Yea |
| Michele Brooks | Republican | Yea |
| Milou Mackenzie | Republican | Yea |
| Mindy Fee | Republican | Yea |
| Natalie Mihalek | Republican | Yea |
| Parke Wentling | Republican | Yea |
| R. Lee James | Republican | Yea |
| Rich Irvin | Republican | Yea |
| Rob W. Kauffman | Republican | Yea |
| Russ Diamond | Republican | Yea |
| Ryan Warner | Republican | Yea |
| Sheryl M. Delozier | Republican | Yea |
| Stephanie Borowicz | Republican | Yea |
| Steven C. Mentzer | Republican | Yea |
| Thomas L. Mehaffie | Republican | Yea |
| Timothy J. O'Neal | Republican | Yea |
| Tina Pickett | Republican | Yea |
| Valerie S. Gaydos | Republican | Yea |
| Zachary Mako | Republican | Not Voting |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors HB 849?
- HB 849 is sponsored by Mary Jo Daley (Democratic), Tina M. Davis (Democratic), Nathan Davidson (Democratic), Torren Ecker, Kate A. Klunk (Republican), Morgan Cephas (Democratic), Toepel, Leanne Krueger (Democratic), Christina D. Sappey (Democratic), Carol Hill-Evans (Democratic), Greg Rothman (Republican), Kirkland, Sheryl M. Delozier (Republican), Jared G. Solomon (Democratic), Robert Freeman (Democratic), Donatucci, Michael H. Schlossberg (Democratic), Dan Frankel (Democratic), Murt, Ryan, Stephens, Thomas L. Mehaffie (Republican), Daniel J. Deasy (Democratic), Kyle J. Mullins (Democratic), Dan Moul (Republican), Mark M. Gillen (Republican), Danielle Friel Otten (Democratic), Christopher M. Rabb (Democratic), Joe Webster (Democratic), Donna Bullock, Stephen Kinsey, and Donna Oberlander.
- What is the current status of HB 849?
- This bill died with 2019-2020 Regular Session. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
- Where can I track HB 849?
- Track HB 849 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
Make your voice heard on HB 849
Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.
Stay ahead of HB 849
Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously
One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.
Track this bill →