Testimony in Support of Improving the Unemployment Compensation System in Pennsylvania

Coronavirus, Employment

CLS Litigation Director  Sharon Dietrich submitted the following testimony before the Pennsylvania House Labor and Industry Committee on March 10, 2021. The testimony highlights problems with Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Compensation and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance programs that are preventing eligible applicants from receiving benefits, and proposes solutions to these problems. Download the full testimony with attachments Members…

CLS Releases Recommendations for the Biden-Harris Administration

*Highlights, Employment, Housing, Legislation, Public Benefits

Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS), one of the largest and most respected legal services programs in the nation, congratulates President-Elect Joseph Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris on their successful election. As President-Elect Biden said in a recent speech: “We must make the promise of the country real for everybody — no matter their…

PA General Assembly Unanimously Expands Criminal Record Sealing By Removing Court Debt and Other Barriers

*Highlights, Criminal Records, Employment

On Wednesday, October 21st 2020, the Pennsylvania General Assembly unanimously enacted House Bill 440 (Delozier, R-Cumberland, and McClinton, D-Philadelphia), a bipartisan bill which advances Clean Slate policies in Pennsylvania. This bill builds upon the Clean Slate Law, Act 56 of 2018, to open jobs, housing and other opportunities to Pennsylvanians with criminal cases who deserve…

PA General Assembly Enacts Bipartisan Economic Recovery Bill, Removing Criminal Record Barriers to Occupational Licensing

*Highlights, Employment

On June 24 2020, the General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 637 (DiSanto, R-Dauphin/Perry and Schwank, D-Berks), which reforms occupational licensing by getting rid of outdated criminal record restrictions for the professions and occupations which are regulated by boards and commissions within the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA).   Prior state law perpetuated racial…

Gig Workers’ & Contractors’ Rights and COVID-19

Coronavirus, Employment

Información en Español Printable flyer Great news! A new unemployment benefit called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (“PUA”) is available to workers who are not eligible for regular Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation (UC) – including gig workers, freelancers, independent contractors, employees of religious institutions, and self-employed individuals. You may be eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) if your…