Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 10 D · 3 R cosponsors

SB 176 — An Act amending the act of December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1), known as the Unemployment Compensation Law, in compensation, providing for eligibility related to domestic violence.

Last action — Laid on the table (Pursuant to Senate Rule 9), Dec. 8, 2025

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced January 24, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 13 sponsors

    1 primary, 12 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (10 D · 3 R) — cross-party backing.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Protecting Domestic Violence Victims by Providing Unemployment Compensation

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

74 added · 78 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent changes to Bill SB 176 include clarifications on how individuals can prove that they need time off from work due to domestic violence without facing penalties. Specifically, the bill now outlines acceptable forms of verification, such as protective orders, police records, and support statements from professionals or loved ones. This matters because it provides clearer guidelines and potentially more accessible support for individuals in dangerous situations, ensuring their safety while protecting their employment rights.

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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
PRINTER'S NO.
115 PRINTER'S NO.
115 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
511 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
176 2025 INTRODUCED BY ROBINSON, KANE, SAVAL, HAYWOOD, HUGHES, BARTOLOTTA AND TARTAGLIONE, JANUARY 24, 2025 REFERRED TO LABOR AND INDUSTRY, JANUARY 24, 2025 AN ACT Amending the act of December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1), entitled "An act establishing a system of unemployment compensation to be administered by the Department of Labor and Industry and its existing and newly selected on a civil service basis;
176 2025 INTRODUCED BY ROBINSON, KANE, SAVAL, HAYWOOD, HUGHES, BARTOLOTTA, TARTAGLIONE, PISCIOTTANO, CULVER, COSTA, SANTARSIERO, SCHWANK AND MILLER, JANUARY 24, 2025 SENATOR ROBINSON, LABOR AND INDUSTRY, AS AMENDED, APRIL 1, 2025 AN ACT Amending the act of December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1), entitled "An act establishing a system of unemployment compensation to be administered by the created agencies with personnel (with certain exceptions)ly selected on a civil service basis;
creating certain special funds in the custody of the State providing for eligibility related to domestic violence.
creating certain special funds in the custody of the State Treasurer;
and prescribing penalties," in compensation, providing for eligibility related to domestic violence.
(d) If an individual who submits documentation VERIFIES <-- DOMESTIC VIOLENCE under subsection (b) in a form acceptable to <-- the department is otherwise eligible under section 401, the 20250SB0176PN0511 - 2 - individual shall be considered eligible, and the department shall expedite a determination of eligibility under section 501.
(d) If an individual who submits documentation under subsection (b) in a form acceptable to the department is otherwise eligible under section 401, the individual shall be considered eligible, and the department shall expedite a 20250SB0176PN0115 - 2 - determination of eligibility under section 501.
<-- An individual SECTION 501.
An individual who submits a self-affirmation under subsection (b)(3) shall submit documentation of the domestic violence situation under subsection (b)(1), (2) or (4) to the department within one hundred twenty (120) days of the date of application.
<-- (E) AN INDIVIDUAL who submits a self-affirmation under subsection (b)(3) shall submit documentation of the domestic violence situation under subsection (b)(1), (2) or (4) to the department within one hundred twenty (120) days of the date of application.
This subsection shall not be construed to prohibit redetermination of eligibility within eighteen (18) months of the application for benefits if the department receives information within eighteen (18) months of the application for benefits indicating that the self-affirmation submitted under subsection (b)(3) included false information or an individual fails to submit documentation of the domestic violence situation under subsection (b)(1), (2) or (4) within one hundred twenty (120) days of the date of application.
This subsection shall not be construed to prohibit <-- redetermination of eligibility within eighteen (18) months of the application for benefits if the department receives information within eighteen (18) months of the application for benefits indicating that the self-affirmation submitted under subsection (b)(3) included false information or an individual fails to submit documentation of the domestic violence situation under subsection (b)(1), (2) or (4) within one hundred twenty (120) days of the date of application.
(e) The department shall grant relief from charges under section 302.1 to base year employers for benefit charges related to a claim that is determined eligible in accordance with this section.
THE DEPARTMENT MAY, FOR <-- GOOD CAUSE, EXCUSE THE REQUIREMENT OR EXTEND THE PERIOD WITHIN WHICH DOCUMENTATION MUST BE PROVIDED.
(e) (F) The department shall grant relief from charges under <-- section 302.1 to base year employers for benefit charges related to a claim that is determined eligible in accordance with this section.
(f) (G) Subject to subsection (c), if an employer is granted <-- relief from charges without a request under subsection (e) (F), <-- the department shall notify the employer that relief from charges shall be granted without the need for the employer to submit a request.
(f) Subject to subsection (c), if an employer is granted relief from charges without a request under subsection (e), the department shall notify the employer that relief from charges shall be granted without the need for the employer to submit a request.
20250SB0176PN0511 - 3 - Section 2.
Section 2.
The Department of Labor and Industry shall consult with the Office of Victim Advocate and relevant advocacy groups when implementing section 402.7 of the act, including updates to the application for unemployment compensation, updated notices to claimants and employers and the development of any forms related to documentation of a domestic violence situation.
The Department of Labor and Industry shall consult with the Office of Victim Advocate and relevant advocacy groups when implementing section 402.7 of the act, including updates to the application for unemployment compensation, 20250SB0176PN0115 - 3 - updated notices to claimants and employers and the development of any forms related to documentation of a domestic violence situation.
20250SB0176PN0511 - 4 -
20250SB0176PN0115 - 4 -
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Action History

  1. Laid on the table (Pursuant to Senate Rule 9), Dec. 8, 2025

  2. Re-reported as committed, Oct. 20, 2025

  3. Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, April 2, 2025

  4. Second consideration, April 2, 2025

  5. First consideration, April 1, 2025

  6. Reported as amended, April 1, 2025

  7. Referred to LABOR AND INDUSTRY, Jan. 24, 2025

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 12 co-sponsors · 240 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (12)

Not signed on (240)

240 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"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.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

civil-rights labor
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 176 do?
Protecting Domestic Violence Victims by Providing Unemployment Compensation
Who sponsors SB 176?
SB 176 is sponsored by Judith L. Schwank (Democratic), Devlin J. Robinson (Republican), John I. Kane (Democratic), Nikil Saval (Democratic), Art Haywood (Democratic), Vincent J. Hughes (Democratic), Camera Bartolotta (Republican), Christine M. Tartaglione (Democratic), Nick Pisciottano (Democratic), Lynda Schlegel Culver (Republican), Jay Costa (Democratic), Steven J. Santarsiero (Democratic), and Nick Miller (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 176?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced January 24, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 176?
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Last checked for changes 4 months ago · updated continuously

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