Cal. Civ. Code § 954

As used in this act unless a different meaning clearly appears from
the context:
(a) The term "person" includes one or more individuals, partnerships, associations, organizations,
corporations, legal representatives, trustees in bankruptcy or receivers. It also
includes, but is not limited to, any owner, lessor, assignor, builder, manager, broker,
salesman, agent, employe, independent contractor, lending institution and the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, and all political subdivisions, authorities, boards and commissions
thereof.
(b) The term "employer" includes the Commonwealth or any political subdivision or board,
department, commission or school district thereof and any person employing four or
more persons within the Commonwealth, but except as hereinafter provided, does not
include religious, fraternal, charitable or sectarian corporations or associations,
except such corporations or associations supported, in whole or in part, by governmental
appropriations. The term "employer" with respect to discriminatory practices based
on race, color, age, sex, national origin or non-job related handicap or disability,
includes religious, fraternal, charitable and sectarian corporations and associations
employing four or more persons within the Commonwealth.
(c) The term "employe" does not include (1) any individual employed in agriculture or
in the domestic service of any person, (2) any individuals who, as a part of their
employment, reside in the personal residence of the employer, (3) any individual employed
by said individual's parents, spouse or child.
(d) The term "labor organizations" includes any organization which exists for the purpose,
in whole or in part, of collective bargaining or of dealing with employers concerning
grievances, terms or conditions of employment or of other mutual aid or protection
in relation to employment.
(e) The term "employment agency" includes any person regularly undertaking, with or without
compensation, to procure opportunities to work or to procure, recruit, refer or place
employes.
(f) The term "Commission" means the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission created by
this act.
(g) The term "discriminate" includes segregate.
(h) The term "age" includes any person forty years of age or older and shall also include
any other person so protected by further amendment to the Federal Age Discrimination
in Employment Act.
(i) The term "housing accommodations" includes (1) any building, structure, mobile home
site or facility, or portion thereof, which is used or occupied or is intended, arranged
or designed to be used or occupied as the home residence or sleeping place of one
or more individuals, groups or families whether or not living independently of each
other; and (2) any vacant land offered for sale, lease or held for the purpose of
constructing or locating thereon any such building, structure, mobile home site or
facility. The term "housing accommodation" shall not include any personal residence
offered for rent by the owner or lessee thereof or by his or her broker, salesperson,
agent or employe.
(j) The term "commercial property" means (1) any building, structure or facility, or portion
thereof, which is used, occupied or is intended, arranged or designed to be used or
occupied for the purpose of operating a business, an office, a manufactory or any
public accommodation; and (2) any vacant land offered for sale, lease or held for
the purpose of constructing or locating thereon any such building, structure, facility,
business concern or public accommodation.
(k) The term "personal residence" means a building or structure containing living quarters
occupied or intended to be occupied by no more than two individuals, two groups or
two families living independently of each other and used by the owner or lessee thereof
as a bona fide residence for himself and any members of his family forming his household.
(l) The term "public accommodation, resort or amusement" means any accommodation, resort
or amusement which is open to, accepts or solicits the patronage of the general public,
including but not limited to inns, taverns, roadhouses, hotels, motels, whether conducted
for the entertainment of transient guests or for the accommodation of those seeking
health, recreation or rest, or restaurants or eating houses, or any place where food
is sold for consumption on the premises, buffets, saloons, barrooms or any store,
park or enclosure where spirituous or malt liquors are sold, ice cream parlors, confectioneries,
soda fountains and all stores where ice cream, ice and fruit preparations or their
derivatives, or where beverages of any kind are retailed for consumption on the premises,
drug stores, dispensaries, clinics, hospitals, bathhouses, swimming pools, barber
shops, beauty parlors, retail stores and establishments, theatres, motion picture
houses, airdromes, roof gardens, music halls, race courses, skating rinks, amusement
and recreation parks, fairs, bowling alleys, gymnasiums, shooting galleries, billiard
and pool parlors, public libraries, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools,
high schools, academies, colleges and universities, extension courses and all educational
institutions under the supervision of this Commonwealth, nonsectarian cemeteries,
garages and all public conveyances operated on land or water or in the air as well
as the stations, terminals and airports thereof, financial institutions and all Commonwealth
facilities and services, including such facilities and services of all political subdivisions
thereof, but shall not include any accommodations which are in their nature distinctly
private.
(m) The term "political subdivision" means any county, city, borough, incorporated town
or township of this Commonwealth.
(n) The term "legislative body" means the body or board authorized by law to enact ordinances
or adopt resolutions for the political subdivision.
(o) The term "local commission" means a Human Relations Commission created by the legislative
body of a political subdivision.
(p) The term "non-job related handicap or disability" means any handicap or disability
which does not substantially interfere with the ability to perform the essential functions
of the employment which a handicapped person applies for, is engaged in or has been
engaged in. Uninsurability or increased cost of insurance under a group or employe
insurance plan does not render a handicap or disability job related.
(p.1) The term "handicap or disability," with respect to a person, means:
(1) a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of such person's
major life activities;
(2) a record of having such an impairment; or
(3) being regarded as having such an impairment,
but such term does not include current, illegal use of or addiction to a controlled
substance, as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (Public Law
91-513, 21 U.S.C. § 802).
(q) The term "permanent hearing examiner" shall mean a full-time employe who is an attorney.
(r) The term "designated agent of the complainant" shall mean an individual who is a para-legal
under the supervision of a practicing attorney.
(s) The term "commercial profit" means any form of compensation in money, or which can
be measured in terms of money.
(t) The term "familial status" means one or more individuals who have not attained the
age of eighteen years being domiciled with:
(1) a parent or other person having legal custody of such individual or individuals; or
(2) the designee of such parent or other person having such custody, with the written
permission of such parent or other person.
The protections afforded against discrimination on the basis of familial status shall
apply to any person who is pregnant or is in the process of securing legal custody
of any individual who has not attained the age of 18 years.
(u) The term "Fair Housing Act" means Public Law 90-284, 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq.
(v) The term "accessible" means being in compliance with the applicable standards set
forth in the following:
(1) the Fair Housing Act (Public Law 90-284, 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq.);
(2) the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-336, 42 U.S.C. § 12101
et seq.); and
(3) the act of September 1, 1965 (P.L.459, No.235), entitled, as amended, "An act requiring
that certain buildings and facilities adhere to certain principles, standards and
specifications to make the same accessible to and usable by persons with physical
handicaps, and providing for enforcement."
(w) (1) The term "housing for older persons" means housing:
(i) provided under any Federal or State program that the Pennsylvania Human Relations
Commission determines is specifically designed and operated to assist elderly persons
as defined in the Federal or State program;
(ii) is intended for and solely occupied by persons sixty-two years of age or older; or
(iii) is intended and operated for occupancy by at least one person fifty-five years of
age or older per unit.
(2) In determining whether housing qualifies as housing for older persons under this clause,
the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission's requirements shall include, but not
be limited to, the following:
(i) ((i) deleted by amendment).
(ii) At least eighty percent of the units are occupied by at least one person fifty-five
years of age or older per unit.
(iii) There is publication of, and adherence to, policies and procedures which demonstrate
an intent by the owner or manager to provide housing for persons fifty-five years
of age or older.
(iv) The housing complies with regulations promulgated by the Pennsylvania Human Relations
Commission for verification of occupancy. Regulations under this paragraph shall do
all of the following:
(A) Provide for verification by reliable surveys and affidavits. Surveys and affidavits
under this subparagraph shall be admissible in administrative and judicial proceedings
for the purpose of verification under this paragraph.
(B) Include examples of the types of policies and procedures relevant to a determination
of compliance with the requirement of paragraph (iii).
(3) Housing shall not fail to meet the requirements for housing for older persons by reason
of unoccupied units provided that such units are reserved for occupancy by persons
who meet the age requirements of this clause.
((w) amended July 12, 1996, P.L.684, No.117)
(x) The term "independent contractor" includes any person who is subject to the provisions
governing any of the professions and occupations regulated by State licensing laws
enforced by the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs in the Department
of State, or is included in the Fair Housing Act (Public Law 90-284, 42 U.S.C. § 3601
et seq.).
(y) The term "real estate-related transaction" means any of the following:
(1) The making or purchasing of loans or providing other financial assistance for purchasing,
constructing, improving, repairing or maintaining a housing accommodation or commercial
property.
(2) The purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing or maintaining a housing accommodation
or commercial property.
(3) The selling, brokering or appraising of real property.
(z) The term "advertisement" or "advertising" means any advertisement and any similar
written, printed, taped or broadcast communication, notice, statement or the like
which is disseminated (whether published, printed, circulated, issued, displayed,
posted or mailed) for the purpose of promoting housing activity, including, but not
limited to, rentals, leases and sales. ((z) added June 25, 1997, P.L.326, No.34)
(aa) The term "advertiser" means any person who places, publishes, broadcasts or similarly
causes to be disseminated by any other means an advertisement or advertising as defined
in clause (z). ((aa) added June 25, 1997, P.L.326, No.34)
(bb) (1) The term "race" includes traits historically associated with the individual's race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles.
Nothing in this clause shall be construed to prohibit an employer from adopting and
enforcing an otherwise valid workplace health and safety rule or policy or other rule
or policy justified as a bona fide occupational qualification, provided the employer
demonstrates all of the following, if the rule or policy impacts traits historically
associated with the individual's race:
(i) Without the adoption of the rule or policy, the health or safety of an employe or
other materially connected person may be impaired.
(ii) The rule or policy is adopted for nondiscriminatory reasons.
(iii) The rule or policy is specifically tailored to the applicable position and activity.
(iv) The rule or policy is applied equally to individuals whose positions fall under the
applicable position and activity.
(2) Nothing in this clause shall be construed to prohibit an employer from adopting and
enforcing an otherwise valid workplace policy to prevent a hostile work environment,
provided the policy is adopted for nondiscriminatory reasons and is applied equally.
((bb) added Nov. 25, 2025, P.L.331, No.54)
(cc) The term "protective hairstyle" includes, but is not limited to, such hairstyles as
locs, braids, twists, coils, Bantu knots, afros and extensions. ((cc) added Nov. 25,
2025, P.L.331, No.54)
(dd) (1) The term "religious creed" includes head coverings and hairstyles historically associated
with religious creeds. Nothing in this clause shall be construed to prohibit an employer
from adopting and enforcing an otherwise valid workplace health and safety rule or
policy or other rule or policy justified as a bona fide occupational qualification,
provided the employer demonstrates all of the following, if the rule or policy impacts
head coverings and hairstyles historically associated with the individual's religious
creed:
(i) Without the adoption of the rule or policy, the health or safety of an employe or
other materially connected person may be impaired.
(ii) The rule or policy is adopted for nondiscriminatory reasons.
(iii) The rule or policy is specifically tailored to the applicable position and activity.
(iv) The rule or policy is applied equally to individuals whose positions fall under the
applicable position and activity.
(2) Nothing in this clause shall be construed to prohibit an employer from adopting and
enforcing an otherwise valid workplace policy to prevent a hostile work environment,
provided the policy is adopted for nondiscriminatory reasons and is applied equally.
((dd) added Nov. 25, 2025, P.L.331, No.54)