PRINTER'S NO. 1108
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
839
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY RESCHENTHALER, VULAKOVICH, RAFFERTY, SCARNATI AND
VOGEL, AUGUST 29, 2017
REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AUGUST 29, 2017
AN ACT
Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions relating to
government and administration, providing for designation of
place of worship as building of historical or architectural
significance.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 53 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
ยง 1142. Designation of place of worship as building of
historical or architectural significance.
(a) Consent required.--A municipality may not designate or
nominate for designation a religious structure as a building of
historical or architectural significance if a person having
legal or equitable title to the building does not consent to the
designation or nomination.
(b) Definition.--As used in this section, the term
"religious structure" means a building or other structure that:
(1) serves as a church, synagogue or other place of
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worship on the date that the municipality in which the
building or other structure is located seeks to designate the
building or other structure as historically or
architecturally significant;
(2) has served as a church, synagogue or other place of
worship within five years of the date that the municipality
in which the building or other structure is located seeks to
designate the building or other structure as historically or
architecturally significant; or
(3) is located on real property that is wholly or
partially tax exempt as a place of regularly stated religious
worship on the date that the municipality in which the
building or other structure is located seeks to designate the
building or other structure as historically or
architecturally significant. A building or structure
described in this paragraph shall be conclusively deemed to
be a religious structure under this section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20170SB0839PN1108 - 2 -
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