PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 508 PRINTER'S NO. 2380
No. 461 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY M. WHITE, GREENLEAF, RAFFERTY, D. WHITE, ARMSTRONG AND DINNIMAN, MARCH 15, 2007
SENATOR REGOLA, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AS AMENDED, SEPTEMBER 18, 2008
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of June 24, 1931 (P.L.1206, No.331), entitled,
2 as reenacted and amended, "An act concerning townships of the
3 first class; amending, revising, consolidating, and changing
4 the law relating thereto," further providing for sewer and
5 drainage systems connections.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. Section 2401.1 of the act of June 24, 1931
9 (P.L.1206, No.331), known as The First Class Township Code,
10 reenacted and amended May 27, 1949 (P.L.1955, No.569), is
11 amended to read:
12 Section 2401.1. Sewer and Drainage Systems; Constructed by
13 any Municipality Authority; Connection by Owners; Enforcement.--
14 [Whenever] (a) Except as set forth in subsection (b), whenever
15 a sewer or drainage system is established or constructed by any
16 municipality authority within a township, the township
17 commissioners shall be empowered by ordinance to compel all
18 owners of property abutting on, or adjoining any street or
1 highway, in which such sewer or drainage system is located, to 2 make connection with such sewer or drainage system in such 3 manner as they may order for the purpose of discharge of such 4 drainage or waste as they may specify. The township 5 commissioners may by ordinance impose penalties to enforce any 6 regulation or order they may ordain with reference to any sewer 7 or drainage connections. 8 (b) An owner of a dwelling unit used by a member of a 9 recognized religious sect may file an application with the 10 township commissioners to be exempted from the requirement to 11 make connection with a sewer or drainage system as required 12 under subsection (a). The township commissioners shall approve 13 the application for exemption if it is made in conformance with 14 this subsection. NO APPLICATION SHALL BE APPROVED UNLESS THE <-- 15 APPLICANT DEMONSTRATES TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE TOWNSHIP 16 COMMISSIONERS THAT AN ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVE MEANS FOR SEWAGE 17 DISPOSAL EXISTS. The application must state the manner in which 18 the requirements of subsection (a) conflict with the applicant's 19 religious beliefs and shall include an affidavit by the 20 applicant stating that: 21 (1) The applicant is a member of a recognized religious 22 sect. 23 (2) The religious sect has established tenets or teachings 24 which conflict with the provisions of subsection (a). 25 (3) The applicant adheres to the established tenets or 26 teachings of the sect. 27 (4) The dwelling unit will be used solely as a residence for 28 the applicant or family member of the applicant. 29 Section 2. The provisions of 25 Pa. Code § 243.7 are 30 abrogated to the extent of any inconsistency with the amendment 20070S0461B2380 - 2 -
1 of section 2401.1 of the act. 2 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days. A19L73BIL/20070S0461B2380 - 3 -