PRINTER'S NO. 4646
No. 740 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY FICHTER, BEBKO-JONES, BROWNE, CASORIO, JAMES,
MELIO, READSHAW, ROBERTS, SATHER, SOLOBAY, THOMAS, WALKO,
WATSON, YUDICHAK, RAYMOND AND YOUNGBLOOD, NOVEMBER 20, 2002
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, NOVEMBER 20, 2002
A RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
2 conduct a study, in cooperation with the Department of
3 Community and Economic Development and the House of
4 Representatives Urban Affairs Committee, of the adequacy of
5 current State and local programs to combat urban blight and
6 report its findings to the House of Representatives.
7 WHEREAS, There exist in this Commonwealth many neighborhoods
8 which are becoming blighted because of vacant, abandoned,
9 deteriorated or deteriorating residential, commercial and
10 industrial buildings; and
11 WHEREAS, Blighted property reduces the health, safety and
12 well-being of other residents of a neighborhood and reduces the
13 property values of other residents of a neighborhood; and
14 WHEREAS, Uncorrected blighting conditions tend to increase
15 the rate of abandonment and possible destruction of
16 neighborhoods and lead to an erosion in the tax base of local
17 governments, depriving local governments of revenues needed to
18 provide essential services; and
19 WHEREAS, The programs and activities of State government and
1 local governments should be effectively and efficiently
2 coordinated to have a positive impact on the health, safety and
3 well-being of citizens of this Commonwealth; therefore be it
4 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
5 Legislative Budget and Finance Committee in cooperation and with
6 the active participation of the Department of Community and
7 Economic Development and the House of Representatives Urban
8 Affairs Committee to conduct a study of the adequacy of current
9 State government policies in preventing blighting conditions
10 from developing and in removing blighted conditions that have
11 developed; and be it further
12 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
13 Legislative Budget and Finance Committee in cooperation and with
14 the active participation of the Department of Community and
15 Economic Development and the House of Representatives Urban
16 Affairs Committee to conduct a study of the adequacy of current
17 local government actions and programs in preventing blighting
18 conditions from developing and in removing blighted conditions
19 that have developed; and be it further
20 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
21 evaluate the feasibility, cost and effectiveness of establishing
22 a State registry of property maintenance and nuisance code
23 violators; and be it further
24 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
25 report its findings and recommendations to the House of
26 Representatives no later than one year from the adoption of this
27 resolution.
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