Bill > HB777

This bill establishes a new minimum wage requirement for education support professionals (ESPs) in Pennsylvania public schools, mandating that they be paid at least $20 per hour or a regionally-determined living wage (whichever is higher) beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. The bill requires the Department of Labor and Industry to calculate and annually adjust the living wage for each public school entity based on the Consumer Price Index, and it provides a mechanism for implementing these wage increases for existing employment contracts. For ESPs currently earning less than the new minimum wage, school districts must make supplemental wage payments to bridge the gap, and they will receive reimbursement from the Department of Education for these additional costs. The bill also amends school board voting procedures to explicitly prohibit entering into contracts with ESPs that pay less than the mandated minimum wage. Education support professionals are defined as non-professional, non-substitute school employees, and the bill includes provisions to protect existing employment agreements while gradually transitioning to the new wage standards. The legislation aims to ensure fair compensation for school support staff and provides a structured approach to implementing wage increases over several years.

Labor and Employment

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=777