PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 382
PRINTER'S NO. 541
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
407
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY MASSER, HELM, CALTAGIRONE, BERNSTINE, SCHLOSSBERG,
JAMES, NEILSON, MILLARD, DeLUCA, JOZWIAK, WHITE, O'NEAL,
GOODMAN, SCHMITT, DONATUCCI, BIZZARRO, HOHENSTEIN AND
ISAACSON, FEBRUARY 6, 2019
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON URBAN AFFAIRS, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, FEBRUARY 19, 2019
AN ACT
Amending Title 1 (General Provisions) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in rules of construction, further
providing for definitions.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1991 of Title 1 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a definition to read:
§ 1991. Definitions.
The following words and phrases, when used in any statute
finally enacted on or after September 1, 1937, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise, shall have the meanings
given to them in this section:
* * *
"Blighted property." The term includes:
(1) A premises:
(i) ascertained to be a public nuisance due to
physical condition or use and regarded as such at common
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law and deemed to be a danger to public health, safety
and welfare or public nuisance as regulated by a locally
adopted property maintenance code and OR, IF NO SUCH CODE
EXISTS, any compatible code enacted by the act of
November 10, 1999 (P.L.491, No.45), known as the
Pennsylvania Construction Code Act; or
(ii) the condition of which contains an attractive
nuisance created by physical condition, use or occupancy,
including , but not limited to, abandoned WATER wells,
shafts, basements, excavations and unsafe fences or other
structures, or WHICH CONTAINS a safety risk, including ,
but not limited to, unauthorized entry or unsafe
equipment.
(2) A dwelling that has been condemned or otherwise
deemed unfit for occupancy or use by the local authority
having jurisdiction due to dilapidated, unsanitary, unsafe ,
OR vermin-infested condition or THAT IS lacking in the
facilities and equipment as required by the Pennsylvania
Construction Code Act.
(3) A structure determined BY THE LOCAL AUTHORITY HAVING
JURISDICTION to be a fire hazard or otherwise that could
easily catch fire or cause a fire and endanger public health,
safety and welfare.
(4) A vacant or unimproved lot or parcel of ground
located in a predominantly developed neighborhood that has
become a place for the accumulation of trash and debris or
haven for rodents and other vermin by reason of neglect or
lack of maintenance.
(5) A property that is vacant and has not been
rehabilitated within one year from receipt of notice for
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corrective action as issued by the local authority having
jurisdiction, except a property where a valid construction
permit is in place.
(6) A vacant or unimproved lot or parcel of ground on
which THAT IS SUBJECT TO a municipal lien for the cost of
demolition of a structure previously located on the property
AND for which no payments ON THE LIEN have been made for a
period of 12 months.
(7) A vacant or unimproved lot or parcel of ground on
which the total municipal liens for delinquent real estate
and property tax or any other type of municipal claim are
greater than 150% of the fair market value of the property as
established by the board of assessment appeals or other body
with legal authority to determine the taxable value of the
property.
(8) A property that has been declared abandoned in
writing by the owner, including an estate that is in
possession of the property.
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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