PRINTER'S NO. 935
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
948
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY CEPHAS, HARRIS, KINSEY, MADDEN, RABB, PROBST,
HOHENSTEIN, SOLOMON, SCHLOSSBERG, KHAN, SANCHEZ, DELLOSO,
HILL-EVANS, PARKER, FIEDLER, BURGOS, BULLOCK, CIRESI,
KRAJEWSKI, OTTEN AND GREEN, APRIL 17, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, APRIL 17, 2023
AN ACT
Providing for neighborhood infrastructure repair program and for
eligibility for financial assistance under neighborhood
infrastructure repair program; establishing the Municipal
Neighborhood Infrastructure Grant Program; providing for
duties of Department of Community and Economic Development;
and making an appropriation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Neighborhood
Infrastructure Repair Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Community and Economic
Development of the Commonwealth.
"Neighborhood infrastructure project." A project to repair,
replace or provide maintenance to any sidewalk, alleyway or
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other pathway within a municipality which is located on private
property and accessible to the public, including the maintenance
of trees or other encroaching vegetation.
"Neighborhood infrastructure repair program." A neighborhood
infrastructure repair program established under section 3.
Section 3. Neighborhood infrastructure repair program.
A municipality may establish a neighborhood infrastructure
repair program to provide financial assistance for neighborhood
infrastructure projects. Upon establishing the neighborhood
infrastructure repair program, the department shall provide
matching funds to the municipality for the neighborhood
infrastructure repair program in accordance with section 5. The
municipality may complete a neighborhood infrastructure project
or hire a third-party contractor to complete the neighborhood
infrastructure project under the neighborhood infrastructure
repair program.
Section 4. Eligibility for financial assistance under
neighborhood infrastructure repair program.
(a) Applications.--Upon submission of an application as
specified by the municipality, an individual may be eligible
for financial assistance for a neighborhood infrastructure
project under a neighborhood infrastructure repair program, as
follows:
(1) If the applicant's household income is less than
150% of the Federal poverty guidelines, upon receipt of proof
of the household requirement under this paragraph, the
municipality shall cover 100% of the total cost of the
neighborhood infrastructure repair program.
(2) If the applicant's household income is greater than
150% of the Federal poverty guidelines, the municipality
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shall cover 100% of the total cost of the neighborhood
infrastructure repair program by adding the total cost of the
neighborhood infrastructure repair project to the amount of
real property tax due on the applicant's homestead, interest
free, for a 15-year amortization period beginning after the
completion of the neighborhood infrastructure repair project.
The following shall apply:
(i) If the applicant offers the applicant's
homestead for sale within the 15-year amortization
period, the applicant shall notify a potential buyer of
the increased amount of real property tax due on the
homestead for which the potential buyer will be liable
upon the purchase of the homestead.
(ii) The applicant may pay off the remaining balance
due on a neighborhood infrastructure repair project at
any time during the 15-year amortization period without
penalty.
(b) Multiple applicants.--For a neighborhood infrastructure
repair project owned by multiple individuals, only one
individual shall be required to submit an application under
subsection (a). Upon receipt of an application under subsection
(a) by one individual representing multiple applicants, the
municipality shall conduct an election among the applicants to
determine the financial responsibility for the neighborhood
infrastructure repair project. If 51% of the applicants agree on
the municipality's assessment of the financial responsibility
for the neighborhood infrastructure repair project, the
municipality shall proceed to assess the financial
responsibility in accordance with subsection (a).
Section 5. Municipal Neighborhood Infrastructure Grant Program.
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(a) Establishment.--The Municipal Neighborhood
Infrastructure Grant Program is established within the
department for the purpose of providing matching funds to a
municipality that establishes a neighborhood infrastructure
repair program. The department shall create an application
process for a municipality to participate in the Municipal
Neighborhood Infrastructure Grant Program, which may include the
following information:
(1) The number of projected neighborhood infrastructure
projects to be completed.
(2) The number of neighborhood infrastructure projects
eligible for financial assistance under section 4.
(3) Any other information deemed necessary by the
department.
(b) Maximum grant award.--The department may not award a
grant to a municipality under the Municipal Neighborhood
Infrastructure Grant Program in excess of $5,000,000.
Section 6. Appropriation.
The amount of $100,000,000 is appropriated to the department
for the administration of the Municipal Neighborhood
Infrastructure Grant Program under section 5.
Section 7. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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