PRINTER'S NO. 1892
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1677
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY A. DAVIS, SANCHEZ, HILL-EVANS, SCHLOSSBERG,
KINSEY, CEPHAS, YOUNG, KINKEAD, N. NELSON, INNAMORATO,
HOHENSTEIN, A. BROWN AND LEE, JUNE 23, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, JUNE 23, 2021
AN ACT
Amending Title 12 (Commerce and Trade) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions relating to
consumer credit, providing for grieving parent temporary
payment deferral; and establishing the Grieving Parent
Temporary Debt Relief Advisory Board.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 12 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
ยง 6105. Grieving parent temporary payment deferral.
(a) Payment deferral.--A creditor in this Commonwealth shall
permit a debtor who has enrolled in the program to defer a
payment and may not charge a late fee or penalty related to a
payment for up to 365 days, at the debtor's discretion,
following the enrollment date of the debtor in the program.
(b) Program establishment.--The Grieving Parent Temporary
Payment Deferral Program is established in the department for
the purpose of assisting debtors in this Commonwealth in the
event of the death of a debtor's child due to gun violence. The
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department shall work with the Department of Human Services and
the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency to achieve the purpose
of this section.
(c) Program services.--The program shall provide the
following to a debtor enrolled in the program:
(1) Mental health counseling.
(2) Financial counseling.
(3) Assistance in the preparation and filing of the
following:
(i) insurance documentation;
(ii) a death certificate; and
(iii) other forms and documentation required for
programs and resources for which the debtor may qualify.
(d) Enrollment requirements.--A debtor may enroll in the
program up to six months following the death of a child. A
debtor shall be required to submit a copy of the death
certificate of the child in order to qualify for the program but
may utilize program services in order to seek assistance in the
submission of a death certificate under this subsection.
(e) Advisory board.--The Grieving Parent Temporary Debt
Relief Advisory Board is established within the department. The
board shall work with creditors, public utilities,
telecommunication entities, wireless communication entities and
other related entities the board deems appropriate to create
best practices for the implementation of this section.
(f) Composition and terms.-- The board shall be comprised of:
(1) Four members appointed by the Governor from the
community who have lost a child due to gun violence, who
shall serve a term of two years. No member appointed under
this paragraph may serve more than two terms.
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(2) The following members, who shall serve by virtue of
their public position:
(i) The Secretary of Banking and Securities or a
designee who shall serve as chair of the board.
(ii) The Secretary of Human Services or a designee.
(iii) The Executive Director of the Pennsylvania
Housing Finance Agency or a designee.
(g) Duties.--The board, with guidance from the department,
shall develop and oversee implementation of the program in the
following areas:
(1) program application process;
(2) mental health counseling;
(3) financial counseling; and
(4) other areas the department and board determine
relevant for administration of the program.
(h) Vacancy.--In the event that any member appointed under
subsection (f) shall resign or otherwise become unable to
fulfill the obligations under this section, a successor shall be
appointed in the same manner and with the same qualifications as
set forth in this section for the outgoing member of the board.
(i) Quorum.--A majority of the board shall constitute a
quorum.
(j) Compensation and expenses.--Members of the board shall
serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for actual and
necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official
duties.
(k) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Board." The Grieving Parent Temporary Debt Relief Advisory
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Board established under subsection (e).
"Child." A minor child of a biological parent, stepparent or
adoptive parent or in the care of a legal guardian.
"Creditor." An individual or person to whom money is owed
for the payment of a mortgage, rent or utility bill for gas,
electric, water, sewer, oil, propane or other services.
"Debtor." A biological parent, stepparent, adoptive parent
or legal guardian of a child that is liable to a creditor.
"Program." The Grieving Parent Temporary Payment Deferral
Program established under subsection (b).
Section 2. The addition of 12 Pa.C.S. ยง 6105(a) shall apply
to contracts entered into on or after the effective date of this
section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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