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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
04/24/2024 12:19 AM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20130&cosponId=14140
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House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: February 20, 2014 02:14 PM
From: Representative Kurt A. Masser
To: All House members
Subject: Revised Blight Act cosponsor memo
 
In the near future I plan to introduce legislation that will help local governments combat blight in our communities, and to prevent its toxic spread. Please see the changes in the crossed out and underlined language below. If you had already added your name, would you please do so again?

The Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Act (Act 90) has been used with tremendous success since its enactment in 2010. Unfortunately, some of the worst offenders have nevertheless managed to continue to evade their responsibilities by exploiting “loopholes” in the Act. Some popular tactics include putting title in the name of a shell entity with no resources or profits; and, leaving property under the control of an agent, such as a property manager or landlord, who cannot be held liable under Act 90. Often, the property manager is actually the true owner.

My legislation will put an end to these “hide and seek” games by extending liability to cover all property owners, and their agents, as well. as well as the individuals they put in control of the property. No longer will a person be able to say “mine” when deciding how much to charge for rent, and “not mine” when the code enforcement officer shows up with a stack of citations. Broadening liability in this way will enable municipalities to locate an individual or entity that can actually be held accountable; it will also make it pointless for owners to continue to hide behind fictitious names and pawn landlords.

The legislation makes other changes, as well, including incorporating existing provisions of the crimes code, and removing unnecessary and burdensome procedural requirements, which make it more difficult for municipalities to prosecute out-of-state owners.

Blight encourages crime and depresses property values, and it has a way of spreading. Blighted properties are truly hazards to neighborhoods. And, while the Blight Act has been an extremely valuable tool in the fight against blight, the changes I propose will strengthen the law and further empower our local governments.

Please join me in supporting this effort. You may contact Cindy Abbott at 260-6134.


Introduced as HB2120