PRINTER'S NO. 940
No. 851 Session of 1991
INTRODUCED BY PETRONE, CAWLEY, MICHLOVIC, ITKIN, BUNT, PISTELLA, BELARDI, CIVERA, KOSINSKI AND RICHARDSON, MARCH 19, 1991
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND WELFARE, MARCH 19, 1991
AN ACT 1 Amending the act of June 24, 1937 (P.L.2045, No.397), entitled, 2 as amended, "An act relating to the support of indigent 3 persons; providing for the support of such persons by certain 4 relatives, and for the recovery of public moneys expended for 5 care and assistance from the property and estates of certain 6 persons; providing for guardians of the person and property 7 of such persons; providing for the arrest and seizure and 8 sale of the property of deserters; and providing procedure," 9 providing that no lien shall be imposed against the real 10 property of persons receiving assistance. 11 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 12 hereby enacts as follows: 13 Section 1. Section 4 of the act of June 24, 1937 (P.L.2045, 14 No.397), known as The Support Law, amended August 22, 1961 15 (P.L.1029, No.464), July 26, 1963 (P.L.318, No.172) and August 16 13, 1963 (P.L.682, No.361), is amended to read: 17 Section 4. Property of Persons Liable for Expenses Incurred 18 for Support and Assistance.--(a) Except as limited by 19 subsection (c) hereof, the real and personal property of any 20 person shall be liable for the expenses of his support, 21 maintenance, assistance and burial, and for the expenses of the 22 support, maintenance, assistance and burial of the spouse and
1 unemancipated minor children of such property owner, incurred by 2 any public body or public agency, if such property was owned 3 during the time such expenses were incurred, or if a right or 4 cause of action existed during the time such expenses were 5 incurred from which the ownership of such property resulted. Any 6 public body or public agency may sue the owner of such property 7 for moneys so expended, and any judgment obtained shall be a 8 lien upon the said real estate of such person and be collected 9 as other judgments, except as to the real and personal property 10 comprising the [home] primary residence and furnishings of such 11 person, which [home] primary residence shall not be subject to 12 the lien of such judgment [but] and shall not be subject to 13 execution on such judgment during the lifetime of the person, 14 surviving spouse, or dependent children. 15 (b) Except as limited by subsection (c) hereof, any claim 16 for the expenses of support, maintenance, assistance and burial 17 of a person and for the support, maintenance, assistance and 18 burial of his spouse and unemancipated minor children, held by 19 any public body or public agency, shall have the same force and 20 effect against the real and personal estate of a deceased person 21 as other debts of a decedent, and shall be ascertained and 22 recovered in the same manner. 23 (c) No lien may be imposed against the property which is the 24 primary residence of any individual or of his spouse on account 25 of medical assistance for the aged paid or to be paid on his 26 behalf (except pursuant to the judgment of a court on account of 27 benefits incorrectly paid on behalf of such individual), and 28 there shall be no adjustment or recovery from such individual's 29 estate or from the estate of his spouse of any medical 30 assistance for the aged correctly paid on behalf of such 19910H0851B0940 - 2 -
1 individual. 2 Section 2. On and after the effective date of this act, all 3 real property used as the primary residence of an individual 4 theretofore subject to the lien is released from the lien. 5 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 1992. A24L67VDL/19910H0851B0940 - 3 -