PRINTER'S NO. 3447
No. 2534 Session of 1998
INTRODUCED BY STETLER, FICHTER, REINARD, PETRONE, CAWLEY,
STABACK, CARONE, COY, GODSHALL, ARGALL, MARSICO,
E. Z. TAYLOR, LEH, DEMPSEY, ROBINSON, CAPPABIANCA, HENNESSEY,
READSHAW, OLASZ, WOGAN, WALKO, HARHAI, ORIE, WOJNAROSKI,
VAN HORNE, RAMOS AND MAHER, APRIL 22, 1998
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, APRIL 22, 1998
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of July 7, 1947 (P.L.1368, No.542), entitled,
2 as amended, "An act amending, revising and consolidating the
3 laws relating to delinquent county, city, except of the first
4 and second class and second class A, borough, town, township,
5 school district, except of the first class and school
6 districts within cities of the second class A, and
7 institution district taxes, providing when, how and upon what
8 property, and to what extent liens shall be allowed for such
9 taxes, the return and entering of claims therefor; the
10 collection and adjudication of such claims, sales of real
11 property, including seated and unseated lands, subject to the
12 lien of such tax claims; the disposition of the proceeds
13 thereof, including State taxes and municipal claims recovered
14 and the redemption of property; providing for the discharge
15 and divestiture by certain tax sales of all estates in
16 property and of mortgages and liens on such property, and the
17 proceedings therefor; creating a Tax Claim Bureau in each
18 county, except counties of the first and second class, to act
19 as agent for taxing districts; defining its powers and
20 duties, including sales of property, the management of
21 property taken in sequestration, and the management, sale and
22 disposition of property heretofore sold to the county
23 commissioners, taxing districts and trustees at tax sales;
24 providing a method for the service of process and notices;
25 imposing duties on taxing districts and their officers and on
26 tax collectors, and certain expenses on counties and for
27 their reimbursement by taxing districts; and repealing
28 existing laws," providing for code compliance, for
29 responsibilities of purchasers, for municipal tax liens, for
30 default on payments and for hearings on certain appeals.
31 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
1 hereby enacts as follows:
2 Section 1. Sections 503.1 and 504 of the act of July 7, 1947
3 (P.L.1368, No.542), known as the Real Estate Tax Sale Law, are
4 amended by adding subsections to read:
5 Section 503.1. Extension of Period for Discharge of Tax
6 Claim.--* * *
7 (f) Upon the entering of an equitable apportioned payment
8 schedule pursuant to subsection (a), the municipality shall
9 retain a lien on the property in question for the total amount
10 of taxes owed on the property.
11 Section 504. Extension for Elderly.--* * *
12 (e) Upon the entering of an equitable apportioned payment
13 schedule pursuant to section 503.1(a), the municipality shall
14 retain a lien on the property in question for the total amount
15 of taxes owed on the property.
16 Section 2. The act is amended by adding sections to read:
17 Section 504.1. Default on Payments.--If an applicant
18 defaults on any payment of an equitable apportioned payment
19 schedule authorized pursuant to section 503.1(a), the lien on
20 the property shall be immediately satisfied by upset sale
21 pursuant to Article VI.
22 Section 504.2. Hearing.--If requested by the applicant, a
23 hearing shall be scheduled to appeal any decision made as a
24 result of the default of an equitable apportioned payment
25 schedule authorized pursuant to section 503.1(a). Should the
26 applicant provide sufficient reason for the default of the
27 scheduled payment, the authorized extension shall be reevaluated
28 and reinstated pursuant to section 503.1(a).
29 Section 609.1. Purchaser Responsibility.--(a) After the
30 deed has been conveyed to the purchaser of the property pursuant
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1 to section 608, if the property does not comply with municipal
2 housing and building code standards then it shall be the
3 responsibility of the purchaser to:
4 (1) Commence the abatement of substandard conditions within
5 thirty (30) days of sale confirmation.
6 (2) Bring the property into full municipal housing and
7 building code compliance within six (6) months of the sale
8 confirmation.
9 (b) Municipalities shall be authorized to extend or
10 reevaluate the time frames established in subsection (a) as
11 deemed necessary.
12 (c) If the purchaser of the property fails to achieve full
13 code compliance pursuant to subsection (a), the property shall
14 be put up for sale again and the purchaser shall receive the
15 price paid at the time of the sale for the property in question.
16 (d) If requested by the purchaser, a hearing shall be
17 scheduled to appeal any decision made as a result of the failure
18 to achieve code compliance pursuant to subsection (a). Should
19 the purchaser provide sufficient reason for the failure to
20 comply with the municipal housing and building code, an
21 authorized extension shall be granted by the municipality
22 pursuant to subsection (b).
23 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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