Labor & Industry 2023-2024

The Senate Labor and Industry Committee met Wednesday, October 4, 2023 to consider the following bills:

SB 577 (Kane, Tartaglione, and L. Williams) – The legislation makes numerous improvements to the Construction Worker Misclassification Act (Act 72 of 2010) including creating a debarment penalty, enhancing criminal penalties for construction worker misclass, adding a private right of action, and requiring violators to pay for attorney and investigatory costs.

Amendment A002367 (Robinson) includes the Department of Labor and Industry’s requested technical changes and two substantive changes that strengthen penalties against contractors and individuals that misclassify construction workers.

The first substantive change creates a tiered debarment with up to a 3-year debarment for a first offense and up to a 5-year debarment for a second and subsequent offense. The length of the debarment is at the discretion of the DLI Secretary.

The penalty section will be changed to have three tiers. The three tiers are a Misdemeanor 2 for a first offense, Misdemeanor 1 for a second offense, and a Felony 3 for a third or subsequent offense.

The amendment passed 9-2 (DiSanto and Tartaglione).

The bill passed as amended 10-1 (DiSanto).

HB 1354 (Young) – The legislation increases financial penalties for individuals and businesses that violate the Child Labor Law from $500 to $1,000 for a first offense and from $1,500 to $3,000 for a second and subsequent offense.

The bill passed unanimously (11-0).

The Senate Labor & Industry Committee met on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 to consider the following bill:

Senate Bill 365 (Bartolotta) − The committee considered Senate Bill 365 (Bartolotta) and amendment A01496. Senate Bill 365 amends the Workers Compensation Act to clarify and improve the process for first responders to file workers compensation claims for post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI).

Both the amendment and bill were adopted by a 10-0-1 vote. Senator Laughlin was on personal leave and did not vote.


The Senate Labor & Industry Committee met on Monday, June 26, 2023 to consider the following nominations:

  • Wadud Ahmad to the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review
  • Maura Mundy to the Workers Compensation Appeals Board
  • Gina Cerelli Thrasher to the Workers Compensation Appeals Board

All nominees were reported with a favorable recommendation by a 10-0-1 vote. Senator Laughlin was on personal leave and did not vote on the nominees.

The Senate Labor & Industry Committee met on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 to consider the confirmation of Acting-DLI Secretary Nancy Walker:

The committee unanimously reported Acting-Secretary Walker with a favorable recommendation.

The Senate Labor & Industry Committee met on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 to consider the following bills:

SB 69 (Langerholc) – Creates a Recovery to Work pilot program within the Department of Labor and Industry. The program provides grants to employers that hire folks that are in recovery if the individuals in recovery meet certain thresholds for work hours and weeks worked consecutively. An amendment passed 10-1. The bill received a final passage vote of 7-4. All Democratic Senators voted no on the bill during final passage.

SB 756 (Robinson, Kane, and Haywood) – Allows recycled materials to be used in the manufacture and sale of stuffed toys. The Department of Labor and Industry will enforce consumer protections and have the authority to issue fines for violations of this act. The legislation passed unanimously.


The Senate Labor & Industry Committee met on Wednesday, March 8 to consider the following bills:

SB 226 (Robinson) – Amends the Fire and Panic Act to correct the date by which family childcare homes must implement interconnected smoke alarm requirements.

  • Passed Unanimously

SB 239 (Argall) – Establishes procedures to be followed when state correctional officers and forensic employees are under investigation for misconduct and requires that state correctional officers suspended pending investigation continue to receive pay and benefits unless a criminal proceeding has been instituted under the Governor’s Code of Conduct, in which case the employee may be suspended without pay.

  • Passed Unanimously.