1Amending the act of April 6, 1951 (P.L.69, No.20), entitled "An
2act relating to the rights, obligations and liabilities of
3landlord and tenant and of parties dealing with them and
4amending, revising, changing and consolidating the law
5relating thereto," further providing for summons and service
6and for appeal by tenant to common pleas court.

7The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8hereby enacts as follows:

9Section 1.  Section 502 of the act of April 6, 1951 (P.L.69,
10No.20), known as The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, added July
116, 1995, (P.L.261, No.36), is amended to read:

12Section 502.  Summons and Service.--(a)  Upon the filing of
13the complaint, the justice of the peace shall issue a summons
14which recites substantially the complaint, is directed to any
15writ server, constable or the sheriff of the county and commands
16that writ server, constable or sheriff to summon the tenant to
17appear before the justice of the peace to answer the complaint
18on a date not [less than seven nor more than ten] more than 
19seven days from the date of the summons.

1(b)  The summons may be served personally on the tenant, by
2mail or by posting the summons conspicuously on the leased
3premises.

4Section 2.  Section 513(b) of the act, added July 6, 1995
5(P.L.253, No.33), is amended to read:

6Section 513.  Appeal by Tenant to Common Pleas Court.--* * *

7(b)  Within [ten] five days after the rendition of judgment
8by a lower court arising out of residential lease or within
9thirty days after a judgment by a lower court arising out of a
10nonresidential lease or a residential lease involving a victim
11of domestic violence, either party may appeal to the court of
12common pleas, and the appeal by the tenant shall operate as a
13supersedeas only if the tenant pays in cash or bond the amount
14of any judgment rendered by the lower court or is a victim of
15domestic violence and pays in cash any rent which becomes due
16during the court of common pleas proceedings within ten days
17after the date each payment is due into an escrow account with
18the prothonotary or the supersedeas shall be summarily
19terminated.

20* * *

21Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.