PRINTER'S NO. 1326
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1121
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY KULIK, LONGIETTI, SCHLOSSBERG, READSHAW, SAINATO,
D. COSTA, McNEILL, A. HARRIS, SOLOMON AND DeLUCA,
APRIL 10, 2017
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON URBAN AFFAIRS, APRIL 10, 2017
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 by adding
paragraphs to read:
§ 1543. Indebtedness.
* * *
(b) Program limitations.--Indebtedness incurred by the
authority under subsection (a) shall not, in aggregate, exceed
any of the following:
* * *
(9) $500,000,000 for the program established in section
1559 (relating to Blight Demolition Bond Issuance Program).
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(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:
* * *
(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
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
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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) Other information required by the board.
(c) Review and approval of application.--The board shall
review the application under this section and shall approve the
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
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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,
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.
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(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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