PRINTER'S NO. 3135
No. 2344 Session of 2000
INTRODUCED BY FICHTER, ADOLPH, ARGALL, BARRAR, BELARDI, BROWNE,
BUNT, BUXTON, CIVERA, CLYMER, L. I. COHEN, M. COHEN,
COLAFELLA, CORRIGAN, DAILEY, DALEY, FRANKEL, GEIST, GORDNER,
GRUCELA, HALUSKA, HARHAI, HENNESSEY, HERMAN, HORSEY, JAMES,
LEH, LUCYK, McCALL, McGEEHAN, McILHATTAN, MELIO, MICOZZIE,
PETRARCA, READSHAW, SAINATO, SHANER, STABACK, STURLA,
E. Z. TAYLOR, TIGUE, TRELLO, VAN HORNE, WALKO AND WOGAN,
MARCH 15, 2000
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON URBAN AFFAIRS, MARCH 15, 2000
AN ACT
1 Establishing a grant program for municipalities to establish
2 code enforcement programs for blighted properties and to hire
3 code enforcement personnel; providing for powers and duties
4 of the Department of Community and Economic Development; and
5 making an appropriation.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. Short title.
9 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Municipal
10 Code Enforcement of Blighted Property Act.
11 Section 2. Definitions.
12 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
13 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
14 context clearly indicates otherwise:
15 "Blighted property." Any of the following:
16 (1) A premises which because of physical condition or
1 use is regarded as a public nuisance at common law or has
2 been declared a public nuisance in accordance with the local
3 housing, building, plumbing, fire and related codes.
4 (2) A premises which because of physical condition, use
5 or occupancy is considered an attractive nuisance to
6 children, including, but not limited to, abandoned wells,
7 shafts, basements, excavations, and unsafe fences or
8 structures.
9 (3) A dwelling which because it is dilapidated,
10 unsanitary, unsafe, vermin-infested or lacking in the
11 facilities and equipment required by the housing code of the
12 municipality has been designated by the department
13 responsible for enforcement of the code as unfit for human
14 habitation.
15 (4) A structure which is a fire hazard or is otherwise
16 dangerous to the safety of persons or property.
17 (5) A structure from which the utilities, plumbing,
18 heating, sewerage or other facilities have been disconnected,
19 destroyed, removed or rendered ineffective so that the
20 property is unfit for its intended use.
21 (6) A vacant or unimproved lot or parcel of ground in a
22 predominantly built-up neighborhood which by reason of
23 neglect or lack of maintenance has become a place for
24 accumulation of trash and debris or a haven for rodents or
25 other vermin.
26 (7) An unoccupied property which has been tax delinquent
27 for a period of two years and those in the future having a
28 two-year tax delinquency.
29 (8) A property which is vacant but not tax delinquent
30 and which has not been rehabilitated within one year of the
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1 receipt of notice to rehabilitate from the appropriate code
2 enforcement agency.
3 "Department." The Department of Community and Economic
4 Development of the Commonwealth.
5 "Municipality." A city, borough, incorporated town, township
6 or home rule, optional plan or optional charter municipality or
7 public authority within this Commonwealth. The term also
8 includes any other governmental entity charged with enforcement
9 of municipal housing, building, plumbing, fire and related
10 codes.
11 Section 3. Code enforcement grant program.
12 (a) Establishment.--The department shall issue grants to
13 eligible municipalities for the purpose of reducing blighted
14 property conditions through the establishment of code
15 enforcement programs and the hiring and training of code
16 enforcement personnel in those municipalities.
17 (b) Eligibility.--In order to receive a grant under this
18 act, a municipality must submit an application acceptable to the
19 department and satisfy the eligibility criteria established by
20 the department.
21 (c) Matching funds.--A municipality shall provide its own
22 funds equal to the amount of the grant provided under this act
23 and shall dedicate those funds to the purpose for which the
24 grant is issued.
25 Section 4. Regulations.
26 The department shall promulgate rules and regulations to
27 carry out the provisions of this act.
28 Section 5. Appropriation.
29 The sum of $5,000,000 is hereby appropriated to the
30 Department of Community and Economic Development for the purpose
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1 of providing grants to municipalities under this act.
2 Section 6. Effective date.
3 This act shall take effect immediately.
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