AN ACT

 

1Amending the act of July 7, 1947 (P.L.1368, No.542), entitled,
2as amended, "An act amending, revising and consolidating the
3laws relating to delinquent county, city, except of the first
4and second class and second class A, borough, town, township,
5school district, except of the first class and school
6districts within cities of the second class A, and
7institution district taxes, providing when, how and upon what
8property, and to what extent liens shall be allowed for such
9taxes, the return and entering of claims therefor; the
10collection and adjudication of such claims, sales of real
11property, including seated and unseated lands, subject to the
12lien of such tax claims; the disposition of the proceeds
13thereof, including State taxes and municipal claims recovered
14and the redemption of property; providing for the discharge
15and divestiture by certain tax sales of all estates in
16property and of mortgages and liens on such property, and the
17proceedings therefor; creating a Tax Claim Bureau in each
18county, except counties of the first and second class, to act
19as agent for taxing districts; defining its powers and
20duties, including sales of property, the management of
21property taken in sequestration, and the management, sale and
22disposition of property heretofore sold to the county
23commissioners, taxing districts and trustees at tax sales;
24providing a method for the service of process and notices;
25imposing duties on taxing districts and their officers and on
26tax collectors, and certain expenses on counties and for
27their reimbursement by taxing districts; and repealing
28existing laws," in sale of property, providing for additional
29costs for rehabilitation and maintenance.

30The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
31hereby enacts as follows:

1Section 1. The act of July 7, 1947 (P.L.1368, No.542), known
2as the Real Estate Tax Sale Law, is amended by adding a section
3to read:

4Section 612.3. Additional Costs for Rehabilitation and
5Maintenance.--(a) Notwithstanding any limitations contained in
6section 206, in the case of property exposed to upset sale and
7not sold at upset sale, the bureau may incur, and may recover as
8costs from proceeds prior to any distribution in any subsequent
9sale to the extent authorized by this or any other act, the
10following:

11(1) Costs of rehabilitation and maintenance as may be, in
12the sole discretion of the bureau, reasonably necessary to
13address safety issues or restore or maintain the property in a
14salable condition.

15(2) Costs of rehabilitation and maintenance necessary to
16ensure the property is maintained in compliance with property
17maintenance codes.

18(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed as creating
19any affirmative duty on the part of the county or bureau to
20rehabilitate or maintain property or as imposing any liability
21on a county or bureau for injuries to persons or property that
22may occur on property subject to rehabilitation and maintenance
23under this section.

24(c) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
25words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
26subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

27"Costs of Rehabilitation," costs and expenses for
28construction, stabilization, rehabilitation, demolition and
29reasonable nonconstruction costs. The term includes
30environmental remediation, architectural, engineering and legal

1fees, permits, financing fees and insurance costs. The term does
2not include construction of new structures.

3"Costs of Maintenance," costs and expenses for materials and
4services related to the upkeep or preservation of the condition
5of the property, including ordinary and necessary repairs.

6"Property Maintenance Codes," municipal ordinances which
7regulate the maintenance or development of real property. The
8term includes building codes, housing codes and public safety
9codes.

10Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.