PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 240, 1133                PRINTER'S NO. 1943

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 217 Session of 1975


        INTRODUCED BY MESSRS. SHELHAMER, WEIDNER, THOMAS, YAHNER, W. W.
           FOSTER, PRATT, COLE, DREIBELBIS, ZELLER, SHUMAN, KLINGAMAN,
           MORRIS, DAVIS, BRANDT, DeVERTER AND BRADLEY, FEBRUARY 4, 1975

        AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
           JULY 8, 1975

                                     AN ACT

     1  Exempting the owner of certain agricultural land from the
     2     payment of assessments for municipal improvements during the
     3     period of time that the owner does not use the services
     4     provided by the improvements.

     5     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     6  hereby enacts as follows:
     7     Section 1.  The owner of land that has been certified by the
     8  Secretary of Agriculture as having been used primarily for
     9  agricultural purposes for at least three years prior to the
    10  installation of water or sewer lines in a right-of-way fronting
    11  on such land, which right-of-way was not secured from the said
    12  owner, shall not be liable for the cost of the installation of
    13  the water or sewer lines provided that he does not avail himself
    14  of the services provided by the lines. The municipality or
    15  authority installing the lines shall have the right to place a
    16  lien against the property for an amount equal to that which
    17  would have been due and payable by the owner if he were liable
    18  for the payment, said line LIEN to be interest free. The lien     <--

     1  shall not have priority over any judgment or mortgage placed
     2  against the land. No execution may be made on the lien unless
     3  the owner avails himself of the services provided by the lines.
     4     Section 2.  If there is a farm dwelling located on the land
     5  and he THE OWNER avails himself of the services provided by the   <--
     6  lines for that dwelling only he shall be liable for the cost of
     7  installation in such amounts as the municipality or authority
     8  shall determine.
     9     Section 3.  Except as provided in section 2, if the owner or
    10  subsequent owner of land described in section 1 avails himself
    11  of the services provided by the lines he shall become liable in
    12  the same manner as other property owners were assessed at the
    13  time the installation was made reduced by an amount which the
    14  municipality or authority installing the lines deems appropriate
    15  taking into consideration the amount of land utilizing the
    16  services.










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