Bill > SB679

This bill aims to establish a minimum hourly wage of $20 for education support professionals (ESPs) in Pennsylvania public schools, beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. The legislation mandates that ESPs will be paid at least $20 per hour or a "living wage" determined by the Department of Labor and Industry, whichever is higher, and requires overtime pay at 1.5 times the base rate. For existing employment contracts, public school entities must provide supplemental wage payments to bring ESP compensation up to the new minimum wage levels through the 2029-2030 school year. The Department of Labor and Industry will calculate a living wage for each public school entity, adjusting it annually based on the Consumer Price Index. Public school entities making these supplemental wage payments will receive reimbursement from the Department of Education, and the bill includes provisions to prevent entities from circumventing the wage requirements by outsourcing services. The bill also modifies school board voting requirements and stipulates that contracts failing to meet the new wage standards must be updated. Education support professionals are defined as non-professional, non-substitute, and non-temporary school employees, ensuring the legislation targets specific support staff roles within the school system.

Education

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=679