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PRINTER'S NO. 3382
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2744
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY RABB, BULLOCK, HOHENSTEIN, HILL-EVANS, KINSEY,
STURLA, SANCHEZ, DELLOSO, KRAJEWSKI, OTTEN AND CEPHAS,
JULY 13, 2022
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JULY 13, 2022
AN ACT
Providing for grants to provide legal assistance for resolving
unclear title to real property; establishing the Unclear
Title Grant Program and the Unclear Title Grant Fund; and
making an appropriation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Unclear Title
Grant Fund Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Human Services of the
Commonwealth.
"Fund." The Unclear Title Grant Fund established under
section 4(a).
"Legal aid entity." A nonprofit network that provides legal
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services to low-income individuals and is competent to provide
legal assistance to an individual seeking to resolve an unclear
title to real property.
"Program." The Unclear Title Grant Program established under
section 3(a).
"Real property." As defined under 68 Pa.C.S. ยง 2103
(relating to definitions).
"Unclear title." A deed to real property that bears the name
of someone other than the apparent owner of the property.
Section 3. Unclear Title Grant Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Unclear Title Grant Program is
established within the department.
(b) Grants.--The department shall award grants under the
program to a legal aid entity, as selected under section 6, for
the purpose of providing legal assistance to individuals with an
unclear title to real property in accordance with this act.
(c) Use of grants.--
(1) Grant money may be used for administrative, legal
and other costs associated with resolving an unclear title to
real property located in this Commonwealth.
(2) Grant money may not be used to pay taxes or liens
owed on the real property.
Section 4. Unclear Title Grant Fund.
(a) Establishment.--The Unclear Title Grant Fund is
established within the State Treasury. Money in the fund shall
be used for the purpose of this act.
(b) Appropriation.--Money transferred to the fund under
subsection (c) is appropriated on a continuing basis to the
department to award grants under this act.
(c) Transfer.--The sum of $50,000,000 shall be transferred
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from the General Fund to the fund.
Section 5. Administration.
(a) Guidelines.--The department shall develop written
guidelines for the implementation and administration of this
act.
(b) Promulgation of regulations.--
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the guidelines under
subsection (a) shall be in effect until such time as the
department promulgates regulations for the implementation and
administration of this act.
(2) Within two years of the effective date of this
section, the department shall promulgate regulations for the
implementation and administration of this act.
(c) Contents.--The written guidelines and regulations under
this section shall include the following:
(1) An application and approval process for awarding a
grant to the legal aid entity selected under section 6. The
application and approval process shall include the ability
for the legal aid entity to apply for grants as needed to
provide legal assistance under this act on a basis as
determined by the department.
(2) A method for the legal aid entity to prioritize
providing legal assistance to individuals eligible to receive
legal assistance under section 7 who live in cities of the
first class, second class, second class A or third class.
Section 6. Legal aid entity.
(a) Selection of legal aid entity.--The department shall
select a legal aid entity, in accordance with subsection (b), to
provide grants in accordance with section 5 for the purpose of
providing legal assistance to individuals in accordance with
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this act.
(b) Requirements of legal aid entity.--The legal aid entity
selected by the department under subsection (a) must be
headquartered in this Commonwealth and be able to provide legal
assistance to individuals seeking to resolve unclear titles to
real property throughout this Commonwealth.
Section 7. Eligibility.
(a) Eligibility of individuals.--The gross household income
of an applicant to receive legal assistance from a legal aid
entity awarded a grant under this act may not exceed the
following incomes:
(1) $25,760 per year for households with one individual.
(2) $34,840 per year for households with two
individuals.
(3) $43,920 per year for households with three
individuals.
(4) $53,000 per year for households with four
individuals.
(5) $62,080 per year for households with five
individuals.
(6) $71,160 per year for households with six
individuals.
(7) $9,080 per year for each additional individual in
the household after six individuals.
(b) Documentation.--Documentation of household income under
subsection (a) must be provided to the legal aid entity.
Section 8. Register of wills.
(a) Waiver of fees.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, a register of wills shall waive probate fees or other
similar county fees under the purview of the register of wills
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for individuals who are eligible for assistance under section 7.
(b) Annual reports.--
(1) By December 31 of each year, a register of wills
shall submit an annual report to the county commissioners or
county executive of the county in which the register of wills
serves.
(2) Each report under this subsection shall include:
(i) The number of fee waivers provided in the past
year.
(ii) The dollar amount of the fees waived in the
past year.
(iii) Any other information deemed necessary by the
register of wills.
(3) Each report under this subsection shall be posted on
the publicly accessible Internet website of the county.
Section 9. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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