Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) Public Comment Now Open
Please see the message below regarding the public comment period for Personal Care Assistance Accommodations Guidance from the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC). Public comment will be accepted from October 6, 2025, to November 25, 2025. The information below includes an overview as well as the link to the process on how to submit public comment.
PHRC is collecting public comment on proposed guidance clarifying how the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act applies to the admission of Personal Care Assistants accompanying individuals with disabilities at public accommodations and commercial properties.
The proposed guidance explains when the PHRC may consider it to be a reasonable accommodation for entities to provide PCAs free or discounted admission, ensuring that individuals with disabilities have equal opportunity to participate in public life. While the PHRA does not guarantee free admission for PCAs in every case, the Commission explains that it may be required in certain circumstances, such as admission to museums, amusement parks, outdoor events, or venues with accessible seating areas.
Under the PHRA, individuals seeking accommodations must have a disability as defined by the law and the requested accommodation must be reasonable and necessary. Covered entities may only deny accommodations if it can show that providing them would create an undue hardship or fundamentally alter the nature of its program.