Regular Session 2015-2016 House Bill 1535 P.N. 2169

PRINTER'S NO. 2169

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No.

1535

Session of

2015

INTRODUCED BY KOTIK, CALTAGIRONE, MURT, DAVIS, D. COSTA,

O'BRIEN, DRISCOLL, SCHLOSSBERG, TAYLOR, READSHAW, SCHREIBER,

ROZZI, YOUNGBLOOD, MILLARD, McNEILL, SNYDER, DEASY, ACOSTA,

MATZIE, MAHONEY, HARHAI, TOOHIL, LONGIETTI, PASHINSKI, KORTZ

AND SAINATO, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015

AN ACT

Amending Title 64 (Public Authorities and Quasi-Public

Corporations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in

Commonwealth Financing Authority, further providing for

indebtedness; and establishing the Blight Demolition Bond

Issuance Program.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Section 1543(b) and (d) of Title 64 of the

Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:

§ 1543. Indebtedness.

* * *

(b) Program limitations.--Indebtedness incurred by the

authority under subsection (a) shall not, in aggregate, exceed

any of the following:

(1) $300,000,000 for the program established in section

1551 (relating to Business in Our Sites Program).

(2) $150,000,000 for the program established in section

1552 (relating to First Industries Program).

(3) $60,000,000 for the program established in section

1557 (relating to New Pennsylvania Venture Capital Investment

Program).

(4) $150,000,000 for the program established in section

1555 (relating to Building Pennsylvania Program).

(5) $75,000,000 for the program established in 12

Pa.C.S. Ch. 29.

(6) $250,000,000 for the program established in section

1554 (relating to New Pennsylvania Venture Guarantee

Program).

(7) $100,000,000 for the program established in section

1556 (relating to Tax Increment Financing Guarantee Program).

(8) $50,000,000 for the program established in section

1553 (relating to Second Stage Loan Program).

(9) $500,000,000 for the program established in section

1559 (relating to Blight Demolition Bond Issuance Program).

* * *

(d) Exception.--Subsection (c) shall not apply to the

aggregate amount of indebtedness incurred by the authority,

including through the issuance of bonds, for the following

programs:

(1) The program established in section 1553.

(2) The program established in section 1554.

(3) The program established in section 1556.

(4) The program established in section 1559.

* * *

Section 2. Title 64 is amended by adding a section to read:

§ 1559. Blight Demolition Bond Issuance Program.

(a) Establishment.--There is established a program to be

known as the Blight Demolition Bond Issuance Program. The

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program shall provide grants, to be awarded on a competitive

basis and funded by the issuance of bonds, to combat the problem

of neighborhood blight by demolishing blighted properties.

(b) Application for grants.--A municipality may submit an

application to the authority requesting a grant to demolish a

blighted property or blighted properties. The application shall

be on a form required by the board and shall include or

demonstrate all of the following:

(1) The name of the municipality and the name, business

address, telephone number and other relevant contact

information of the individual making the application on

behalf of the municipality.

(2) The location of the blighted property or blighted

properties.

(3) The name, business address, telephone number and

other relevant contact information of the contractor or other

person that will coordinate the demolition efforts for the

blighted property or blighted properties.

(4) A general plan regarding the demolition efforts for

the blighted property or blighted properties.

(5) A cost estimate of the demolition efforts for the

blighted property or blighted properties.

(6) The amount of money requested in relation to the

number of blighted properties that the municipality plans to

demolish.

(7) The prevalence of blighted properties in the

municipality.

(8) Any other information required by the board.

review the application under this section and shall approve the

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application if it determines that all the requirements under

subsection (b) have been met and that, on a competitive basis,

the municipality has demonstrated:

(1) The benefit of having a dedicated funding source for

the demolition of blighted properties in the municipality.

(2) A financial need for the grant.

(3) The efficacy and cost effectiveness of the general

plan regarding the demolition efforts in the municipality.

(4) The satisfaction of any other condition imposed by

the board.

(d) Award of grant.--If the board approves the application

under this section, the authority shall award the grant subject

to the limitations under subsection (e).

(e) Limitations.--

(1) An approved grant under this section shall only be

equal to or less than the amount requested in the

application.

(2) No more than 5% of the funds made available for the

program authorized by this section may be awarded to a

particular municipality.

(f) Definition.--As used in this section, the term "blighted

property" means any of the following:

(1) Premises that, because of physical condition or use,

are regarded as a public nuisance at common law or have been

declared a public nuisance in accordance with the local

housing, building, plumbing, property maintenance, fire or

related codes or ordinances, including nuisance or dangerous

building ordinances.

(2) Premises that, because of physical condition, use or

occupancy, are considered an attractive nuisance to children,

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including, but not limited to, an abandoned well, shaft,

basement, excavation and unsafe fence or structure.

(3) A dwelling that, because it is dilapidated,

unsanitary, unsafe, vermin-infested or lacking in the

facilities and equipment required by the housing code of the

municipality, has been designated by the department

responsible for enforcement of the code as unfit for human

habitation.

(4) A structure that is a fire hazard or otherwise

dangerous to the safety of persons or property.

(5) A structure from which the utilities, plumbing,

heating, sewerage or other facilities have been disconnected,

destroyed, removed or rendered ineffective so that the

property is unfit for its intended use.

(6) A vacant or unimproved lot or parcel of ground in a

predominantly built-up neighborhood which by reason of

neglect or lack of maintenance has become a place for

accumulation of trash or debris or a haven for rodents or

other vermin.

(7) An unoccupied property that has been or becomes tax

delinquent for a period of two years.

(8) A property that is vacant, but is not tax

delinquent, and that has not been rehabilitated within one

year of receipt of notice to rehabilitate from the

appropriate code enforcement agency.

Section 3. This act shall take effect in 120 days.

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