Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus
12/17/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/17/2025 14:33
Grove: Bipartisan Bill to Assist Victims of Domestic Violence Advances to Governor’s Desk
Dec. 17, 2025
HARRISBURG - With bipartisan support, the House sent to the governor for his signature legislation by House Labor and Industry chairmen Reps. Seth Grove (R-Dover) and Jason Dawkins (D-Philadelphia) to streamline unemployment benefits for individuals affected by domestic violence.
This commonsense, bipartisan legislation addresses an often-overlooked part of domestic violence," Grove said. "On several occasions, victims are forced to leave their jobs because their abusers know where they work and show up there, putting them, and their colleagues, in danger. Being pushed out of the workforce through no fault of their own should not require victims to wait an extended period of time to receive unemployment benefits."
Under current law, individuals who are forced to leave their jobs due to domestic violence are required to navigate a lengthy process before becoming eligible for unemployment compensation. The Grove-Dawkins legislation, House Bill 274, would streamline that process by expediting claims when an applicant provides documentation of a domestic violence situation. Once acceptable documentation is verified and all other eligibility requirements are met, the claimant would be able to receive benefits. The bill also permits employers to receive automatic relief from charges for these claims.
House Bill 274 was amended in the Senate to codify decades-old case law that clarifies that a claimant must make a good-faith effort in obtaining employment in suitable work. For example, a claimant would not be eligible for benefits if he or she refuses to attend or participate in a job interview or other application selection activity offered by the employer without good cause, or refuses employment or a referral for employment without good cause prior to an interview or discussion of the job details with the employer.
"This amendment further enhances the bill and helps to weed out fraud and abuse in our UC system," Grove said. "I want to thank our Senate colleagues for adding this important amendment to the bill."
The bill now goes to the governor for his consideration.
Representative Seth Grove
196th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Greg Gross
717.260.6374
[email protected]
RepGrove.com / Facebook.com/RepSethGrove
This commonsense, bipartisan legislation addresses an often-overlooked part of domestic violence," Grove said. "On several occasions, victims are forced to leave their jobs because their abusers know where they work and show up there, putting them, and their colleagues, in danger. Being pushed out of the workforce through no fault of their own should not require victims to wait an extended period of time to receive unemployment benefits."
Under current law, individuals who are forced to leave their jobs due to domestic violence are required to navigate a lengthy process before becoming eligible for unemployment compensation. The Grove-Dawkins legislation, House Bill 274, would streamline that process by expediting claims when an applicant provides documentation of a domestic violence situation. Once acceptable documentation is verified and all other eligibility requirements are met, the claimant would be able to receive benefits. The bill also permits employers to receive automatic relief from charges for these claims.
House Bill 274 was amended in the Senate to codify decades-old case law that clarifies that a claimant must make a good-faith effort in obtaining employment in suitable work. For example, a claimant would not be eligible for benefits if he or she refuses to attend or participate in a job interview or other application selection activity offered by the employer without good cause, or refuses employment or a referral for employment without good cause prior to an interview or discussion of the job details with the employer.
"This amendment further enhances the bill and helps to weed out fraud and abuse in our UC system," Grove said. "I want to thank our Senate colleagues for adding this important amendment to the bill."
The bill now goes to the governor for his consideration.
Representative Seth Grove
196th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Greg Gross
717.260.6374
[email protected]
RepGrove.com / Facebook.com/RepSethGrove
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