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        PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 537                       PRINTER'S NO. 1203

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


SENATE BILL

No. 510 Session of 1997


        INTRODUCED BY ULIANA, FEBRUARY 14, 1997

        AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, JUNE 16, 1997

                                     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," restricting the rights of certain persons to   <--
    29     bid on property subject to sale under this act. DEFINING       <--
    30     "DELINQUENT" TAXES; AND REQUIRING SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS OF
    31     PROPERTY SUBJECT TO SALE TO PROVIDE A CERTIFICATION THAT THEY
    32     DO NOT HAVE DELINQUENT REAL ESTATE TAXES OR MUNICIPAL UTILITY
    33     BILLS THAT ARE MORE THAN ONE YEAR OUTSTANDING.


     1     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     2  hereby enacts as follows:
     3     Section 1.  The act of July 7, 1947 (P.L.1368, No.542), known  <--
     4  as the Real Estate Tax Sale Law, is amended by adding a section
     5  to read:
     6     SECTION 1.  SECTION 102 OF THE ACT OF JULY 7, 1947 (P.L.1368,  <--
     7  NO.542), KNOWN AS THE REAL ESTATE TAX SALE LAW, IS AMENDED BY
     8  ADDING A DEFINITION TO READ:
     9     SECTION 102.  DEFINITIONS.--AS USED IN THIS ACT, THE
    10  FOLLOWING WORDS SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS HEREIN DEFINED, UNLESS THE
    11  CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:
    12     * * *
    13     "DELINQUENT," TAXES SHALL BE CONSIDERED DELINQUENT THIRTY
    14  (30) DAYS AFTER THE FINAL DEADLINE FOR PAYMENT OF SUCH TAXES FOR
    15  THE CURRENT TAX YEAR.
    16     * * *
    17     SECTION 2.  THE ACT IS AMENDED BY ADDING A SECTION TO READ:
    18     Section 619.  Restrictions on Purchases.--(a)  A person shall  <--
    19  not be permitted to bid on properties sold under the provisions
    20  of this act if WITHIN TWENTY (20) DAYS FOLLOWING ANY SALE UNDER   <--
    21  THIS ACT, A SUCCESSFUL BIDDER SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE
    22  CERTIFICATION TO THE BUREAU THAT, within the municipal
    23  jurisdiction, the person is NOT delinquent in paying real estate  <--
    24  taxes or AND THAT the person has NO municipal utility bills that  <--
    25  are more than one year outstanding.
    26     (b)  As used in this section, the following terms shall have
    27  the following meanings:
    28     "Delinquent," taxes shall be considered delinquent thirty      <--
    29  (30) days after the final deadline for payment of such taxes for
    30  the current tax year.
    19970S0510B1203                  - 2 -

     1     "CERTIFICATION," SHALL MEAN PROOF VIA RECEIPTS OF PAID REAL    <--
     2  ESTATE TAXES AND MUNICIPAL UTILITY BILLS WITHIN THE
     3  JURISDICTION, OR A NOTARIZED AFFIDAVIT BY THE BIDDER EVIDENCING
     4  PAYMENT OF SUCH REAL ESTATE TAXES AND MUNICIPAL UTILITY BILLS.
     5     "Municipal," refers to any county, city, borough,
     6  incorporated town, township, home rule municipality, optional
     7  plan municipality, optional charter municipality or any similar
     8  general purpose unit of government which may be authorized by
     9  statute.
    10     "Person," includes a corporation, partnership,; PARTNERSHIP;   <--
    11  limited liability company, business trust, other association,;    <--
    12  BUSINESS TRUST; OTHER ASSOCIATION; government entity, other than
    13  the Commonwealth, estate, trust,; ESTATE; TRUST; foundation or    <--
    14  natural person.
    15     Section 2 3.  This act shall apply to all sales conducted on   <--
    16  or after the effective date of this act.
    17     Section 3 4.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.           <--









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