Northhampton News

HARRISBURG – In response to recent cases of sexual harassment at the Capitol, five female members of the House Republican Caucus unveiled a legislative package aimed at significant reforms to protect taxpayers and victims.

In March, then-Rep. Mike Zabel resigned after it became public that he had sexually harassed a lobbyist, another legislator, and his former campaign manager over several years. More recently, the state paid out a $295,000 sexual harassment settlement to a woman who worked for Mike Vereb. At the time of the offense, Vereb was Gov. Josh Shapiro’s secretary of legislative affairs.

“While the House expanded the House Ethical Conduct Rules in 2019, before I was elected, to cover incidents of sexual harassment by members and officers of the House against House employees, recent incidents have shown we need to tighten our rules further to serve as a better deterrent against inappropriate behavior,” said Rep. Abby Major (R-Armstrong/Westmoreland). “In addition, the rule changes would give members and employees more redress if they are victimized. I am hopeful that my Democrat colleagues would join me in supporting these common-sense changes.”

Major’s resolution seeks to amend House Ethical Conduct Rules by adding “non-verbal acts” to the definition of sexual harassment; expanding rules to prohibit members and officers from engaging in sexual harassment while performing House-related services or duties or on any House-owned or leased property; allowing appeals if an ethics complaint is dismissed after preliminary investigation; and increasing transparency related to complaints filed before the Ethics Committee and their disposition.

“It’s time we demonstrate to the people of Pennsylvania that sexual harassment will not be tolerated throughout the Commonwealth,” said Rep. Kate Klunk (R-York). “I’m proud to join my Republican women colleagues to sponsor a commonsense bill that will protect the identities of victims of sexual harassment and assault who have entered into a settlement agreement with a public entity. It’s unacceptable that information as sensitive as a victim’s name can be accessed by the public through the right-to-know process, jeopardizing their safety and privacy.”

Klunk’s bill proposes amending the Commonwealth’s Right-to-Know Law to redact victims' names from settlement agreements released publicly.

“Government transparency should always be of the highest priority,” said Rep. Donna Scheuren (R-Montgomery). “By including settlement information on PennWATCH, Commonwealth residents will have a clearer picture of what is happening in state government and how their hard-earned taxpayer dollars are being spent.”

Scheuren’s bill aims to amend the PennWATCH Act by including information on each settlement paid due to actions taken by an employee of a Commonwealth agency.

“My legislation would establish accountability and deter elected officials, advisors to elected officials or senior managerial staff from relying on these funds to settle lawsuits that directly involve their own actions,” said Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa (R-Fayette). “The cost of their failure should not be borne by innocent taxpayers while they resign with tax-funded pensions and salaries.”

Grimm Krupa’s bill outlines a framework for seeking reimbursement from individuals whose improper actions result in settlements paid by the Commonwealth.

“My legislation would enshrine already existing federal protections into Pennsylvania law and enable sexual harassment victims and survivors to speak out,” said Rep. Ann Flood. “Victims will no longer fear retaliation for coming forward."

Flood's bill seeks alignment with federal law by prohibiting pre-employment non-disclosure agreements related to sexual assault or harassment disputes.

Representative Abby Major

60th District

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Media Contact: Tracy Polovick

717.260.6358

tpolovick@pahousegop.com