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Pennsylvania State Senate
10/17/2024 02:59 AM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?SPick=20210&chamber=S&cosponId=33867
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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2021 - 2022 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: January 4, 2021 10:59 AM
From: Senator Maria Collett and Sen. Katie J. Muth, Sen. Lindsey M. Williams, Sen. Timothy P. Kearney, Sen. Steven J. Santarsiero, Sen. Amanda M. Cappelletti, Sen. Carolyn T. Comitta, Sen. John I. Kane, Sen. Nikil Saval
To: All Senate members
Subject: The Creation of the #MeToo in Pennsylvania General Assembly Act
 
Since 2017, there have been far too many reports of instances of sexual harassment and sexual assault across our nation including here at home. Whether these reports came from instances by members of Congress, members of state legislatures, or by officials on the local level nationwide, the #MeToo Movement has not only been instrumental in raising awareness of this epidemic, but also instrumental in highlighting the lack of a formal process for victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault to successfully report their harassment and assault and seek the protections necessary to effectively address this issue. 
 
This legislation was previously introduced as SB 480 in the 2019-2020 session and is companion legislation to an identical bill offered by Rep. Kreuger in the House. 
 
As you may recall, the reforms introduced in the bill from last session included: 
 
  • Banning the use of non-disclosure agreements which mask the names of Members of the General Assembly who are accused of harassment if the complaint is credible; 

  • Require that credibly accused members of the Legislature be held accountable to the taxpayers of Pennsylvania and require that they repay any settlements that were paid with taxpayer dollars; 
  • Requiring that paid administrative leave, remote work assignments, and reimbursement for licensed professional counseling be offered to employees during the entire adjudication of the proceedings. 
  • The establishment of procedures for keeping the investigatory, prosecutorial, and adjudicatory functions separate as required under Pennsylvania law; 
  • The establishment of a new section of procedures for promulgating temporary regulations to facilitate the prompt implementation of this new section; 
  • The combining the settlement provisions with provisions relating to the source of payment, the personal liability of elected officials, and the payment of awards; and 

  • Various other technical and conforming changes to the bill. 
 
It is our belief that is it time for the General Assembly of this great Commonwealth to be the leader in this area and to advance measures that protect legislators, staff, employees, and other stakeholders who work with our legislative body. 
 
Please join us in co-sponsoring this crucial legislation. 
 
 



Introduced as SB509


Memo Updated: January 4, 2021 11:00 AM