Bill > HB2733

This bill, known as the Banked Use for Maternity Protection Act, requires employers in Pennsylvania to provide prenatal care leave benefits to eligible employees, defined as those who have worked for at least 30 days. Employers must establish a separate "prenatal care leave account" for each eligible employee and deposit 24 hours of paid leave into it within two days of the employee notifying them of their pregnancy. This leave can be used for routine prenatal medical appointments, diagnostic testing, pregnancy-related consultations, and associated travel time, and employers can request documentation but not specific medical information. The bill also mandates that this leave time counts towards benefits, seniority, and workplace protections, and prohibits employers from forcing employees to use other types of leave instead. Employers must provide written notice of these rights and follow federal guidance on pregnancy accommodations, with a potential six-month hardship exemption for businesses with 15 or fewer employees. Retaliation against employees for using this leave is forbidden, and violations can result in fines of up to $50,000 per offense. The Department of Labor and Industry is empowered to create regulations and enforce the act, which will take effect one year after its passage.