House Democrats are advancing a package of bills aimed at putting Pennsylvanians back to work. PAJobsNow focuses on creating and keeping jobs, growing our businesses, and developing our work force. The plan uses PA tax dollars wisely and capitalizes on existing programs that work.

Work Sharing | House Bill 2160 (Rep. Bradford)
The bill would create a shared-work program under the state's unemployment compensation system. It would enable participating employers to reduce work hours as an alternative to layoffs. Affected employees would receive prorated UC benefits to make up for lost wages.
Status: Passed the House. Awaiting Senate action.

Keystone Employment and Training Tax Credit | House Bill 2242 (Rep. Thomas)
The bill would provide business tax credits to Pennsylvania companies in the amount of $1,000 per job, per year, for up to 5 years, for creating at least 25 (or 20%) more jobs and providing required levels of on the job training to employees (25% of time).

Employment Programs | House Resolution 765 (Rep. Johnson)
A Resolution encouraging cooperation on the 2010 Subsidized Summer Youth Employment Program and the 2010 Subsidized Adult Employment Program.
Status: Adopted by the House.

Business in Our Sites Expansion | House Bill 2399 (Rep. Bradford)
The bill would allow repayments from previous Business in Our Sites projects to be used as security to recapitalize more shovel-ready projects.
Status: Passed the House. Awaiting Senate action.

Small Business Incubators | House Bill 2394 (Rep. Mirabito)
The legislation would infuse $20 million of Commonwealth Financing Authority funding into the Small Business Incubators program, which provides early stage start-up companies access to　a variety of business resources, and open the program to more entrepreneurs.
Status: Passed the House. Awaiting Senate action.

Small Business First Program Enhancement | House Bill 2401 (Rep. Taylor)
Small Business First is a funding program providing, among other things, low-interest loan financing for land and building acquisition and construction; machinery and equipment purchases and working capital. The legislation opens the program to more businesses, such as those with 100 to 200 employees. It also makes the program more user friendly to the growing number of restaurant and hospitality businesses across the Commonwealth.
Status: Passed the House. Awaiting Senate action.

Second Stage Loan Program Enhancement | House Bill 1597 (Rep. Mirabito)
The bill would amend the Second Stage Loan program operated by the Department of Community and Economic Development and Commonwealth Financing Authority, to make the program more attractive to lenders.
Status: Passed the House. Awaiting Senate action.

Mini-COBRA Extension | House Bill 2392 (Rep. Shapiro)
The bill would take advantage of extended federal funding for COBRA insurance subsidies for laid-off Americans. The legislation would apply the extended subsidy to the state's program that gives employees of small businesses the ability to purchase COBRA insurance when they are laid off or when their hours are reduced.
Status: Passed the House. Awaiting Senate action.

Industry Partnerships | House Bill 2230 (Rep. Gergely)
The bill would ensure a successful job-training program continues to help thousands of Pennsylvania workers to get the job skills necessary to compete in the global economy. It would formally establish the Industry Partnerships program in the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. The program started as an initiative through the governor's Job Ready strategy in 2005.
Status: Passed the House. Awaiting Senate action.

Youth Councils | House Bill 1795 (Rep. Thomas)
The bill would require youth councils within local workforce investment boards, in conjunction with federal law. As a subgroup of the WIB, the council is a　collaborative　partnership among employers, educators, community-based organizations, parents and youth　dedicated to enable youth to be successful in education and the workplace.
Status: Passed the House. Awaiting Senate action.