In the near future, I intend to reintroduce legislation that would require contractors to provide proof of workers’ compensation coverage to the Office of the Attorney General as part of the registration process under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act. This would ensure contractors are held accountable for their employees’ worker’s compensation benefits and it would help to secure the rights of employees and law-abiding employers in this state. This legislation was introduced as SB 171 in the 2023-24 session. Members who co-sponsored this legislation previously include Senators Haywood, Fontana, Hughes, Schwank, Costa, Dillon, Street, and Kane.

Currently, Pennsylvania law requires certain employers to insure or self-insure the worker’s compensation liability of their employees. Unfortunately, not enough employers are operating legitimately in accordance with this law to the extent of creating an unnecessary burden on the insolvent Uninsured Employer’s Guarantee Fund which makes required payments to injured workers who are employed by entities that do not hold proper coverage.   

This legislation is aimed protecting workers and their families from bad faith employers by reining in their exploitation of our workers compensation system. In requiring contractors to provide proof of worker’s compensation insurance, my legislation would help to enforce the current legal requirements of employers and reduce the obligations on the Uninsured Employer’s Guarantee Fund.

Please join me in sponsoring this important legislation as it is time to impose fairness on the worker’s compensation system and crack down on those employers operating outside of the law.
 

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 0559: P.L.1645, No.132