Cal. Civ. Code § 956

Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission

In Force
Verified 10/26/2026 · Next check 11/25/2026
effective 10/9/2026PennsylvaniaFair Housing & Anti-Discrimination

Operative Text

Cal. Civ. Code § 956
(a) There shall be, and there is hereby established in the Governor's Office a non-partisan,
departmental administrative commission for the administration of this act, which shall
be known as the "Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission," and which is hereinafter
referred to as the "Commission."
(b) Said Commission shall consist of eleven members, to be known as Commissioners, who
shall be appointed by the Governor by and with the advice and consent of a majority
of the members of the Senate, not more than six of such Commissioners to be from the
same political party, and each of whom shall hold office for a term of five years
or until his successor shall have been duly appointed and qualified. Vacancies occurring
in an office of a member of the Commission by expiration of term, death, resignation,
removal or for any other reason shall be filled in the manner aforesaid for the balance
of that term. Commission members failing to attend meetings for three consecutive
months shall forfeit their seats unless the chairperson of the commission receives
written notification from the member involved that the absence was due to personal
illness or the death or illness of an immediate family member.
(c) Subject to the provisions of this act, the Commission shall have all the powers and
shall perform the duties generally vested in and imposed upon departmental administrative
boards and commissions by the act, approved the ninth day of April, one thousand nine
hundred twenty-nine (Pamphlet Laws 177), known as "The Administrative Code of one
thousand nine hundred twenty-nine," and its amendments, and shall be subject to all
the provisions of such code which apply generally to departmental administrative boards
and commissions.
(d) The Governor shall designate one of the members of the Commission to be its chairperson
who shall preside at all meetings of the Commission and perform all the duties and
functions of the chairperson thereof. The Commission may designate one of its members
to act as chairperson during the absence or incapacity of the chairperson and, when
so acting, the member so designated shall have and perform all the powers and duties
of the chairperson of the Commission.
(e) Six members of the Commission or a majority of those duly appointed and qualified
shall constitute a quorum for transacting business, and a majority vote of those present
at any meeting shall be sufficient for any official action taken by the Commission.
(f) Each member of the Commission shall receive per diem compensation at the rate of sixty
dollars ($60) per day for the time actually devoted to the business of the Commission.
Members shall also receive the amount of reasonable traveling, hotel and other necessary
expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with Commonwealth
regulations.
(g) The Commission shall adopt an official seal by which its acts and proceedings shall
be authenticated, and of which the courts shall take judicial notice. The certificate
of the chairperson of the Commission, under the seal of the Commission and attested
by the secretary, shall be accepted in evidence in any judicial proceeding in any
court of this Commonwealth as adequate and sufficient proof of the acts and proceedings
of the Commission therein certified to.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Section 43 P.S. § 956 establishes the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission as a non-partisan administrative body within the Governor's Office, responsible for administering Pennsylvania's human relations law. The Commission is composed of eleven gubernatorially appointed members, no more than six from the same political party, each serving five-year terms subject to Senate confirmation. The provision also sets out the Commission's internal governance rules, including quorum requirements, compensation for members, and the use of an official seal whose certified records carry evidentiary weight in Pennsylvania courts.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 10, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

For property owners and managers operating in Pennsylvania, 43 P.S. § 956 is foundational context: it creates and structures the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, the body that receives and adjudicates housing discrimination complaints under state law. Compliant operators generally familiarize themselves with the Commission's authority and procedures, since the Commission has broad administrative powers to investigate and act on complaints. Understanding the Commission's composition and governance, as outlined in § 956, helps operators recognize the legitimacy and procedural weight of any proceedings initiated against them.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Under 43 P.S. § 956, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission is the state agency established to enforce Pennsylvania's human relations laws, including protections relevant to housing. Tenants who believe their rights have been violated may look to this Commission as a potential avenue for filing a complaint, since § 956 grants it broad administrative authority. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices can help individuals understand how the Commission's structure and procedures may be relevant to their situation.

General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.

Generated October 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Oct 9, 2026
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