Committee approves bill to extend unemployment benefits to school support staff during breaks

The House Labor & Industry Committee voted to report House Bill 265, sponsored by Rep. Powell, a measure that would amend Pennsylvania’s unemployment compensation law to allow individuals who work for educational institutions in roles other than instructional, research or principal administrative positions to qualify for unemployment benefits during breaks between successive academic years or terms even if they have reasonable assurance of returning.

Rep. Sydney Powell (Representative, prime sponsor) told the committee that the bill would help janitors, lunch staff, bus drivers and instructional aides who often lose pay during summer months: “Our schools cannot function without the dedicated workers, our janitors, our lunch staff, our bus drivers, our instructional aids.” She argued the change would reduce financial insecurity for those employees and help address staffing shortages.

Supporters pointed to staffing shortages statewide: the sponsor cited a Pennsylvania School Bus Association figure that there were 3,500 open school bus driver positions in the 2023–24 school year and a Pennsylvania School Boards Association finding that 70% of superintendents reported a shortage of instructional aides.

Committee Chairman Grove (Representative) opposed the bill and warned it would increase short-term costs for districts and could lead to long-term privatization of services to avoid unemployment costs. “Over the short term, it will increase school property taxes,” he said, arguing that school districts, which generally reimburse unemployment claims rather than pay into the state fund, would face bills for claims and seek savings by contracting out services.

The motion to consider HB 265 was moved by Rep. O’Meara and seconded by Rep. Siegel. The committee recorded the final roll-call and reported the bill as committed; the vote count on the record was 13 in favor and 12 opposed (Yes: Dawkins, Brennan, Donahue, Jerome, Green, Kinkade, Kojewski, Murski, Miller, O’Meara, Scott, Siegel, Young. No: Grove, Anderson, Barker, Bernstein, Cooper, Diorci, Ecker, Fink, Gleim, Jones, Rygaard, Rossie). The committee chair reported: "House Bill 265 is reported as committed from the House and Labor and Industry Committee."

Clarifying details included in committee discussion: the bill applies to employees “in any capacity other than instructional, research or principal administrative” as described in the bill text; the sponsor argued it would address summer income gaps and staffing shortages; potential fiscal impacts on school districts were raised by opponents who said district reimbursement practices could generate increased costs borne locally.

What’s next: The committee reported HB 265 to the House for further consideration. Fiscal and implementation impacts on school districts will be part of the subsequent legislative and budget process.