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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 11, 2018 02:29 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Andrew E. Dinniman |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Strengthening Blighted Property Code violations when owner has received state funds |
| Across the commonwealth, there have been numerous instances of abandoned and unsecured properties becoming havens for drug sales and usage. Such unsecured sites pose a very real threat to the community and, in my district, young lives have been lost when these sites can easily be accessed. When owners of blighted properties receive state funds to rehabilitate the property, the state has an even greater obligation to protect citizens, especially our youth, and penalties for violations should be more severe. For that reason, I am introducing legislation to amend Act 34 of 2015 to increase penalties for code violations (such as securing the property) specifically for owners of blighted properties when funds have been received from a program administered by a state government agency or state authority I will soon reintroduce SB 962 of 2017-18 session, legislation to amend Act 34 specifically where the property owner received funding for construction, rehabilitation, repair or maintenance of that property through any program administered by a state government agency or state authority. Grading shall be follows: · Misdemeanor of the first degree if the offense is a second conviction of a serious violation of the same provision of a municipal code relating to the same property. In addition to any other penalties, a $5,000 fine shall also be imposed for every offense under this subsection. · Felony of the third degree if the offense is a third conviction of a serious violation of the same provision of a municipal code relating to the same property. In addition to any other penalties, a $10,000 fine shall also be imposed for every offense under this subsection. · Felony of the third degree if the offense is a fourth conviction of a serious violation of the same provision of a municipal code relating to the same property. In addition to any other penalties, a $15,000 fine shall also be imposed for every offense under this subsection. · Felony of the third degree if the offense is a fifth or greater conviction of a serious violation of the same provision of a municipal code relating to the same property. In addition to any other penalties, a $20,000 fine shall also be imposed for every offense under this subsection SB 962 was favorably voted out of the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee on April 18, 2018 but not considered by the full Senate prior to the end of the 2017-18 Legislative Session. Last session’s co-sponsors included Senators Argall, Costa, Rafferty, Mensch, and Yudichak. I hope you will join in me in sponsoring this legislation |
Introduced as SB329