LEGISLATIVE NEWS
(Offices & Associations located here)
PA HOUSE
HB 16 – Introduced by Michael O’Brien (D-Philadelphia) on January 30, 2007 - would prohibit local governments from increasing property taxes by more than 5 percent for any future fiscal year.
State: Finance committee.
HB 38 - Introduced by W. Curtis Thomas (D-Philadelphia) on January 30, 2007 – amends the Mortgage Bankers and Brokers Act. Establishes that in order to collect a few from a borrower the broker must be acting as the borrower’s agent. It prohibits certain terms for loans covered by the Act such as balloon payments, negative amortization and the refinancing of a more beneficial loan unless reviewed by a certified housing counselor. Extends violations of the Act to be a violation of the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law.
Status: Commerce Committee.
HB 39 - Introduced by W. Curtis Thomas (D-Philadelphia) on January 30, 2007 – amends the Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program to extend to help prevent predatory lending. Would allow the PHFA to negotiate a buy-out of a predatory loan. It would also require a biennial foreclosure study; lower the statutory interest rate and clarify that application will be accepted past the stated time frame, although the applications will not stay the foreclosure.
Status: Consumer Affairs Committee.
HB 40 – Introduced by W. Curtis Thomas (D-Philadelphia) on January 30, 2007 – amends the Loan Interest and Protection Law (Act 6) extending protections to all residential mortgages and prohibits loading fees of more than 3% of the loan or the full cost of credit life insurance into the principal of the loan, lending without regard to a consumer’s ability to repay, making false or misleading statements about the cost or benefits of the loan or about the appraised value of the home, and charging unreasonable or duplicative servicing or collection fees.
Status: Commerce Committee.
HB71 – Introduced by Richard Grucela (D-Northampton) on January 30, 2007 – amends the Municipalities Planning Code to require municipalities to notify superintendents of school districts when residential developments are approved. Notice shall include location, size, construction schedule and if required by municipality the economic assessment.
Status: Passed out of House June 30, 2007 (200-0) and sent to the Senate Local Government committee.
HB 72 - Introduced by Richard Grucela (D-Northampton) on January 30, 2007 – amends the Municipalities Planning Code to authorize school districts to assess an educational impact fee on each subdivision plan and building permit issued for the construction of new homes within their boundaries. Would prohibit the approval of a plan or the issuance of a building permit unless the applicant provides proof that the educational impact fee was paid in full. Also establishes a fee for subdivision plans. Plans for homes with more than one bedroom would be assessed $2500 per bedroom beginning with the second bedroom, not to exceed $7500 per home. It would set fees for building permits at a fixed rate. And, would limit the use of revenue collected from educational impacts fees to new construction for additional classrooms or renovation of existing buildings, the expansion of classrooms or classroom space, and additional personnel costs needed to provide for an increase in student enrollment.
Status: Local Government committee.
HB 235 – Introduced by Ron Miller (R-York) on February 5, 2007 – amends the Landlord Tenant Act to allow landlords to request an issuance of a write of possession immediately after the rendition of the judgment and that the magistrate comply. Note: This would not apply to actions taken under Act 261.
Status: Judiciary Committee.
HB 239 – Introduced by Ron Miller (R-York) on February 5, 2007 – amends the Township Code to authorize the board of supervisors to require property owners whose principal building is within 150 feet of a township or authority owned water system to connect to and use the system.
Status: May 7, 2007 Passed out of the House, now in Senate Local Government Committee.
HB 299 – Introduced by Phyllis Mundy (D-Luzerne) on February 7, 2007 - amends Section 609 of Municipalities Planning Code clarifying that a proposed amendment by the municipality to the zoning map change will not be valid unless notice requirements are followed and puts the burden of proof on the municipality.
Status: Local Government committee.
HB 397 – Introduced by Scott Petri (R-Bucks) on February 13, 2007 – amends the MPC to allow for transportation impact fees against new development to generate revenue for funding costs of transportation capital improvements related to the new development. It also provides for development impact fees.
Status: Local Government committee.
HB 507 – Introduced by Keith McCall (D-Carbon) on March 6, 2007 – creates the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act. Provides for the regulation of home improvement contracts and for the registration of certain contractors and creating the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund. New construction is exempt. Note: This will include individuals who perform work on manufactured/modular homes after the initial sale. PA Builders Association opposes the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund.
Status: Consumer Affairs Committee. (Similar to SB 100)
HB 558 – Introduced by Craig Dally (R-Northampton) on March 7, 2007 – creates the Construction Disputes Act to provide an alternative method to resolve legitimate construction disputes so to reduce the need for litigation. Note: We are researching true impact to the manufactured housing industry in that it does not specifically include us nor does it exclude us.
Status: Consumer Affairs Committee.
HB 591 – Introduced by John Evans (R-Erie) on March 6, 2007 – amends the Landlord Tenant Act requiring landlords to disclose to prospective residents that the property was used for manufacturing methamphetamine, MDMA (ecstasy) or lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and the resident must acknowledge receipt of such notice. Note: this would include manufactured housing communities.
Status: Consumer Affairs Committee.
HB 810 – Introduced by Louise Williams Bishop (D-Philadelphia) on March 19, 2007 – creates the Residential Lease Protection for Illness Act and would requiring landlords to grant medical access providing tenant approves and allows tenant to terminate lease upon 1 months written notice due to a certified illness. Passage would repeal any inconsistencies in the Landlord Tenant Act. Note:
Status: Passed the House (198-0) on June 20, 2007 and sent to the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee.
HB 816 – Introduced by Scott Boyd (R-Lancaster) on March 19, 2007 – amends the Pennsylvania Construction Code to change board of appeals duties to consider appeals to decision of code administrators and may grant such appeals if it determines that the UCC was incorrectly interpreted by the code administrator, the UCC does not apply, the requirements of the UCC impose unreasonable burden and believes a variance would pose no public hazard, an equivalent form of construction can be used or the UCC imposes a requirement that violates beliefs of a recognized religious sect.
Status: Labor Relations Committee.
HB 843 – Introduced by Don Walko (D-Allegheny) on March 21, 2007 – creates the Blighted Property Receivership Act and provides for court-appointed receivers to bring residential buildings into municipal code compliance when owners fail to comply.
Status: Urban Affairs Committee.
HB 855 – Introduced by John Pallone (D-Westmoreland) on March 19, 2007 – amends the Landlord Tenant Act requiring landlords to safeguard resident’s personal property for a period of 10-days. If there is a cost to safeguard landlord can pass on to resident at such time residents seeks to recover the property. If the resident does not recover the property within the 10-day period then the landlord can, at his discretion, dispose of the property.
Position: Support
Status: Urban Affairs Committee.
HB 866 – Introduced by Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin) on March 22, 2007 - amends the Municipalities Planning Code to allow local municipalities to use fees collected for parks to be used to operate parks and recreation facilities.
Status: Local Government Committee.
HB 884 – Introduced by Ron Buxton (D-Dauphin) on March 22, 2007 – amends to PA Construction Code Act to repeal the 2006 IRC provision for concrete and masonry foundation wall bracing and reinstates the 2003 IRC provision on foundation wall bracing. Same language as in Act 9-2007 (SB437).
HB 904 – Introduced by Robert Freeman (D-Northampton) on March 22, 2007 – amends the MPC to authorized temporary development moratorium.
Position: Against
Status: Passed out of Local Government committee and sent to Appropriations committee on December 12, 2007.
HB 1066 – Introduced by R. Ted Harhai (D-Fayette, Westmoreland) on April 18, 2007 - amends Act 261 to reduce eviction notification from 20/30 days to 7 days and provides for the movement of a home from the leased site in the case of a bankruptcy. Note: The reduced notification time would be great but there would be concerns that the language allowing for a home to be removed from the leased site during a bankruptcy proceeding poses many constitutionality questions.
Position: Opposed
Status: Consumer Affairs committee re-referred to Urban Affairs committee on October 2, 2007.
HB 1079 – Introduced by John Siptroth (D-Monroe) on April 18, 2007 – requires licensure for fist mortgage originators.
Status: Commerce Committee.
HB 1081 – Introduced by Mark Longietti (D-Mercer) on April 18, 2007 – increases oversight of state-certified appraisers and adds the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Secretary of Banking and the Attorney General to the board.
Status: Commerce Committee.
HB 1084 – Introduced by Matthew Smith (D-Allegheny) on April 18, 2007 – raises the amount of a mortgage under which no prepayment penalties can be included in the mortgage contract.
Status: Commerce Committee.
HB1096 - Introduced by Ron Buxton (D-Dauphin) on April 18, 2007 – amends the PA Construction Code Act to establish a Uniform Construction Code Advisory Council to gather and evaluate information from the entire building industry concerning issues with the uniform construction code and changes proposed by the General Assembly.
Status: Passed out of the House (192-0) on October 29, 2007 and now sits in the Senate Labor and Industry Committee.
HB 1144 – Introduced by Timothy Solobay (D-Washington) on April 23, 2007 – establishes tax credit for qualifying costs to include the system, accessories and installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems.
Status: Reported out of Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee to Appropriations committee to Finance committee on January 14, 2008.
HB 1268 – Introduced by Anthony Deluca (D-Allegheny) on May 18, 2007 - provides for the regulation of home improvement contracts and for the registration of certain subcontractors and the establishment of a Home Improvement Guaranty Fund. Note: This will include individuals who perform work on manufactured/modular homes after the initial sale. Status: Consumer Affairs Committee.
HB 1317 – Introduced by Eugene Depasquale (D-York) on May 18, 2007 – amends the Housing Finance Agency Law to establish an energy-efficient home assistance program. Sets up a 2-year pilot program to awards grants in the amount of $5000 to homebuyers to offset closing costs or down payment assistance for home that meet energy efficiency or alternative energy systems or both. Status: Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.
HB1329 – Introduced by David Kessler (D-Berks) on May 24, 2007 – amends the MPC to allow challenges to the validity of a land use ordinance raising procedural questions or alleged defects in the process to be taken directly to the court of common pleas.
Status: Passed out of House on July 12, 2007 (198-0) and sent to the Senate Local Government Committee.
HB1341 – Introduced by Douglas Reichley (R-Berks, Lehigh) on May 24, 2007 – amends the MPC to require provisions requiring an applicant to provide notice to cable television providers in order for them to have an opportunity to make an offer for the installation of improvements.
Status: Local Government Committee.
HB1382 – Introduced by Chris Ross (R-Chester) on May 29, 2007 – total updating of the Motor Vehicle Sales Finance Act and the Goods and Services Installment Sales Act.
Status: Commerce Committee.
HB 1493 – Introduced by Carole Rubley (R- Chester, Montgomery) – amends the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority Act establishing the Water and Wastewater System Connection Funding Program.
Position: Supporting
Status: Environmental Resources and Energy committee.
HB 1506 – Introduced by Eugene Depasquale (D- York) on June 7, 2007 – prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle while using electronic wireless communications devices.
Status: Transportation committee.
HB 1525 – Introduced by David Steil (R- Bucks) on November 20, 2007 – amends the MPC to provide for impact fees and transportation capital improvement plans.
Position: Opposed
Status: Reported out of Local Government committee and sent to Appropriations.
HB 1590 – Introduced by Joe Markosek (D-Allegheny, Westmoreland) on June 18, 2007 – provides for mechanism to fund the state’s road, bridge and mass transit needs.
Status: Passed the House 105-96 on June 27, 2007. Passed the Senate July 16, 2007. Signed by the Governor on July 18, 2007, now Act 44.
HB 1673 – Introduced by Robert Freeman (D-Northampton) on July 3, 2007 – amends Act 261 requiring 30 day notification to residents when a community is sold, provides for right of first refusal and relocation costs to residents if a community is closed. Allows a resident 180 days to move if a community is closed. Also, prohibits a community from prohibiting the placement of pre-owned homes in a community if sites are available. The association is opposed to this language.
Status: Consumer Affairs Committee sent to Urban Affairs Committee on October 2, 2007.
HB 1684 – Introduced by Eddie Pashinski (D- Luzerne) on July 3, 2007 - amends the Landlord Tenant Act of 1951 to change time to release escrow funds (security deposits) from 30 days to 45 days.
Status: Appropriations Committee.
HB 1748 – Introduced by Anthony Deluca (D- Allegheny) on July 14, 2007 – amends the Landlord Tenant Act of 1951 to require monitored security systems in certain tenement buildings and multiple dwelling premises. Does not apply to “mobile home parks”.
Position: None taken at this time.
Status: Consumer Affairs committee.
HB 1757 – Introduced by John Galloway (D- Bucks) on July 17, 2007 – creates the Employee Meal Period Act.
Status: Labor Relations committee.
HB 1776 – Introduced by Robert Belfanti, Jr. (D- Columbia, Montour, Northumberland) on January 28, 2008 – establishes the Fair Contracting Board and the Fair Contracting Fund. Will affect any general contractors or subcontractors whose principal business is in connection with any structures built, being built or to be built for the support, shelter, and enclosures of personas, animals or mobile property of any kind.
Position: Opposed as written since will require licensed retailers to hold additional licensing.
Status: Labor Relations committee.
HB 1787 – Introduced by Barbara McIlvaine Smith (D- Chester) on August 1, 2007 – amends the MPC to provide for municipal curative amendments subsequent to appellate court decisions.
Position: Opposed
Status: Passed the House on December 12, 2007 (166-26) and is now in the Senate Local Government Committee.
HB 1794 – Introduced by Rick Taylor (D- Montgomery) on August 10, 2007 – amends Act 261 to provide for rent control for residents of the age of 55 or greater living in a manufactured housing community.
Position: Opposed.
Status: Sent from Consumer Affairs committee to Urban Affairs committee on October 2, 2007.
HB 1821 – Introduced by Frank Shimkus (D- Lackawanna) on September 4, 2007 – provides for the regulation of home construction contracts and for the registration of certain home builders. Will create the Home Builder Guaranty Fund.
Position: Due to existing licensing requirements for manufactured housing retailers we are to be exempt from this – will closely monitor to assure exemption.
Status: Consumer Affairs committee.
HB 1827 – Introduced by Joshua Shapiro (D- Montgomery) on September 11, 2007 – prohibits operators from using handheld mobile telephones.
Status: Transportation Committee.
HB 1832 – Introduced by Neal Goodman (D- Schylkill) on September 11, 2007 – creates the Contractor and Subcontractor Payment Act and provides for owner’s payment obligations and for contractors and subcontractors payment obligations.
Status: Consumer Affairs Committee.
HB 1870 – Introduced by Mike Sturla (D- Lancaster) on October 3, 2007 – amends the Insurance Company Law of 1921, providing for the accessibility to affordable health insurance coverage for previously uninsured individuals and for small businesses; adding definitions; providing for subsidized health care, for outreach, for Federal waivers and for expiration.
Status: Insurance Committee.
HB 1957 – Introduced by Bryan Lentz (D-Delaware) on October 23, 2007 – amends the Vehicle Code to permit local, full-time police officers who work for full-service police departments to use radar. Currently PA is the only state in the country that prohibits municipal policy form enforcing speed limits with radar. Status: Transportation Committee.
HB 2113 – Introduced by Marc Gergely (D-Allegheny) on December 13, 2007 – amends the PA Construction Code Act to define an “industrialized/modular building” and allow the Department of Labor & Industry to enter into multi-state agreements for the purpose of regulating industrialized/modular buildings. This is being pushed by the Modular Building Institute in VA on behalf of their commercial builders.
Position: No position
Status: Labor Relations Committee
HB 2128 – Introduced by Douglas Reichley (R- Berks, Lehigh) on December 13, 2007 - provides for the improvement of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) post-construction stormwater management permitting.
Status: Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.
HB 2157 – Introduced by Marguerite Quinn (R- Bucks) on January 14, 2008 – amends the PA Safe Drinking Water Act requiring municipalities to adopt ordinances to address wellhead protection.
Status: Environmental Resources and Energy committee.
HB 2226 – Introduced by Michael Hanna (D- Centre, Clinton) on February 26, 2007 – provides for the Interstate 80 toll road impact tax credit.
Status: Transportation committee.
HB 2260 – Introduced by Joe Preston (D- Allegheny) on February 26, 2008 – provides for sliding scale of rates and adjustments for water and wastewater collection system improvement projects and wastewater utilities.
Status: Consumer Affairs committee.
HB 2266 – Introduced by David Steil (R- Bucks) on February 26, 2008 – updates and expands the stormwater planning requirements to be undertaken by counties; authorizing counties to regulate storm water within a watershed-based planning area; authorizing the formation of water resources management authorities; enabling counties, municipalities and water resources management authorities to develop integrated water resource management plans.
Status: Environmental Resources and Energy committee.
HB 2309 – introduced by Keith McCall (D- Carbon) on March 10, 2008 – provides for an annual limitation on expenditures from the Motor License Fund and establishes a Pennsylvania State Police fund.
Status: Transportation Committee.
PA SENATE
SB 100 – Introduced by Senator Tomlinson (R- Bucks) on March 2, 2007 – provides for the regulation of home improvement contracts and for the registration of certain subcontractors who own and operate a home improvement business for jobs in excess of $500. Exempts individuals constructing new homes and anyone selling construction materials or appliances provided they do not arrange for installation. Registration will be through the Bureau of Consumer Protection in the Office of Attorney General and the cost will be $50 every two years. Contracts must be in writing, legible, include registration number, approximate starting date and completion date of project, description of work being performed, list of materials to be used, set of specifications that cannot be changed without a written change order signed by the owner and contractor, total sales price, amount of down payment to include any amount advanced for the purchase of special order materials and complete information of all subcontractors known at time of contract (post office boxes will not be considered an address). Home improvement contractors will be required to carry at least $50,000 liability insurance and $50,000 property damage insurance. The proposed language allows for a three day right of recession and will preempt local laws. Note: This will include individuals who perform work on manufactured/modular homes after the initial sale.
Status: Passed the Senate on June 5, 2007 (46-1) and now sits in the House Consumer Affairs Committee.
SB 126 – Introduced by Stewart Greenleaf (R-Bucks, Montgomery) on March 5, 2007 – creates rent control for manufactured housing land leased communities.
Status: Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure committee.
SB 218 – Introduced by Patrick Browne (R-Lehigh) on January 29, 2007 - Would enact comprehensive changes to the emergency and municipal services tax and how it is collected. Would change the name of the tax to be “local services tax.” Would require municipalities and school district that levy a combined tax of more than $10 to exempt those whose total income from all sources is less than $12,000 fro the calendar year in which the tax is levied. Would define “income from all services” as earned income and net profits. Would require municipalities that levy the tax to enact regulations to process refunds for those eligible for the low-income exemption. Would require employers to withhold the tax based on their number of payroll periods if the municipality and school district levied a combined tax of more than $10. Would require employers to submit the tax to the municipal tax collector within 30 days of the end of each quarter. Would clarify that all funds from this tax must be used for police, fire, and emergency services; road construction or maintenance; the reduction of property taxes, or property tax relief through the implementation of a homestead or farmstead exemption. Would restrict the withholding of the tax to the employee’s principal employer.
Status: Approved by the Governor, June 21, 2007 now Act No. 7.
SB 246 – Introduced by Stewart Greenleaf (R-Bucks, Montgomery) on January 29, 2007 – Establishes the Smoke Free Pennsylvania Act, prohibiting smoking in enclosed and substantially enclosed area. Enforcement will be by the Department of Health.
Status: Passed the House on June 26, 2007 (33-17) passed the Senate with amendments July 16, 2007 – as of December 10, 2007 reported to conference committee since House and Senate could not concur on respective amendments.
SB 295 – Introduced by Patrick Browne (R-Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton) on February 5, 2008 – provides for idling restrictions on diesel-powered commercial vehicles to not more than 5 minutes in any 60-minute period with few exceptions.
Status: Passed Senate 2/6/08, referred to House Transportation Committee on 2/11/08.
SB 359 – Introduced by Stewart Greenleaf (R-Montgomery) on March 12, 2007 – providing for home inspections and establishing the PA Board of Home Inspectors to license and discipline home inspectors.
Status: Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee.
SB 437 – Introduced by Bob Regola (R-Westmoreland) on March 5, 2007 – amends the Pennsylvania Construction Code to repeal the 2006 IRC provision for concrete and masonry foundation wall bracing (anchor bolts) and reinstates the 2003 IRC provision on foundation wall bracing.
Status: Passed the Senate on March 20, 2007 and now sits in the House Labor Relations Committee. Passed House June 6, 2007 with amendments. Passed Senate in amended format June 13, 2007. Signed by Governor June 27, 2007. Effective Immediately. Act 9-2007
SB 483 - Introduced by Patrick Browne (R-Lehigh) on March 15, 2007 – amends Loan Interest and Protection Law (Act 6) by raising the ceiling from $50,000 to $197,000, adjusted annually. The bill also gives enforcement authority to the Department, in addition to the existing authority of the Attorney General.
Status: Reported out of Banking and Insurance Committee on December 10, 2007 and sent to Appropriations.
SB 484 - Introduced by Patrick Browne (R-Lehigh) on March 15, 2007 – amends the Department of Banking Code prohibiting disclosure of certain information; providing for criminal history record information and providing for conduct of administrative proceeding relating to institutions and credit unions.
Status: Reported out of Banking and Insurance Committee on December 10, 2007 and sent to Appropriations.
SB 485 - Introduced by Patrick Browne (R-Lehigh) on March 15, 2007 – amends the Real Estate Appraisers Certification Act to add the Secretary of Banking and the Attorney General to the certification board, increase penalties from $1000 to $10,000 and allow other disciplinary action.
Status: Reported out of Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee on December 11, 2007 and sent to Appropriations.
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SB 486 - Introduced by Patrick Browne (R-Lehigh) on March 15, 2007 – amends the Homeowners Emergency Assistance Program to revise the Act 91 notice to include more information which would help PHFA monitor foreclosures, require lenders to send to PHFA a copy of all notices sent to borrowers and require PHFA to monitor foreclosures. Would also allow PHFA to buy out loans when appropriate, extend the stay of foreclosures to include time for administrative appeals, reduce the interest rate and clarify that applications will be accepted past the stated time frame although late applications will not stay the foreclosure.
Status: Reported out of Urban Affairs and Housing Committee on December 3, 2007 and sent to Appropriations.
SB 487 - Introduced by Patrick Browne (R-Lehigh) on March 15, 2007 – amends the Mortgage Bankers and Brokers Act licensing all mortgage originators and brokers. Would require pre-license training and continuing education as well as strengthening licensing requirements and enforcement.
Status: Reported out of Banking and Insurance Committee on December 10, 2007 and sent to Appropriations.
SB 488 – Introduced by Patrick Browne (R-Lehigh) on March 15, 2007 – amends the Secondary Mortgage Loan Act in a manner similar to the amendments of the Mortgage Bankers and Brokers Act.
Status: Reported out of Banking and Insurance Committee on December 10, 2007 and sent to Appropriations.
SB 726 – Introduced by Patrick Browne (R-Lehigh) on April 9, 2007 - amends the Mechanics Lien Law to provide an exception for all residential projects of three stores or fewer, excluding the basement, regardless of project cost (current law excepts those under $1 million).
Status: Passed out of the House (50-0) on June 18, 2007 and sent to Senate Judiciary committee.
SB 752 – Introduced by Edwin Erickson (R- Chester, Delaware) on April 10, 2007 – creates the Data Quality Act to insure the use of current and reliable data, studies and scientific research by state agencies during the promulgation of new regulations.
Position: Support
Status: Passed the House (50-0) and referred to Senate State Government Committee on June 20, 2007.
SB 817 – Introduced by Robert Robbins (R- Butler, Crawford, Lawrence, Mercer) on May 21, 2007 – amends the Landlord Tenant Act requiring landlord to disclose to potential tenants prior use of the residence for the manufacture of certain controlled substances.
Position: None established yet.
Status: Urban Affairs and Housing Committee.
SB832 – Introduced by Robert Regola III (R-Westmoreland) on May 3, 2007 – repeals the PA Construction Code Act.
Status: Labor and Industry committee.
SB 833 – Introduced by Robert Regola III (R-Westmoreland) on August 27, 2007 – amends Health and Safety of PA Consolidated Statues for the safety of persons in certain buildings.
Status: Labor and Industry committee.
SB 906 – Introduced by Patrick Browne (R-Lehigh, Monroe, Northhampton) on May 29, 2007 – amends the Landlord Tenant Act of 1951 to provide for the disposition of abandoned personal property when a tenant vacates the property. If personal property is left behind will require the tenant to notify the landlord within 10 days of their intent to remove the personal property – landlord must then hold for 30 days at no cost to the tenant. If the tenant does not notify the landlord then after 10 days the landlord can move the contents and must hold for 30 days. After 30 days the landlord can then dispose of the property – if chooses to sell the contents the landlord must send any funds in excess of the tenants obligations to the tenant by certified mail. If no forwarding address then the landlord must hold the funds for an additional 30-days.
Status: Amended in Urban Affairs and Housing committee on February 12, 2008.
SB 909 – Introduced by Constance Williams (D – Delaware, Montgomery) on June 1, 2007 – amends the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority Act to establish the Water and Wastewater System Connection Funding Program. Will extend to manufactured homes and manufactured housing communities.
Status: Environmental Resources and Energy committee.
SB 1095 – Introduced by Patricia Vance (R- Cumberland, York) on September 21, 2007 – provides for idling restrictions on commercial diesel vehicles and imposes penalties.
Status: Transportation Committee.
SB 1280 – Introduced by John Gordner (R- Columbia, Dauphin, Luzerne, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder) on February 12, 2007 – addresses the turnpike public-private partnership agreements and providing for special revenue bonds and preliminary or interim financing.
Status: Transportation Committee.
SB 1377 – Introduced by John Rafferty (R- Berks, Chester, Montgomery) on April 24, 2008 – repeals all reference to “mobile homes” in the General County Assessment Law therefore removing the ability to levy property taxes on manufactured homes.
Status: Finance Committee.
SR 263 – Introduced by Mike Waugh (R- York) on March 14, 2008 – directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study relating to the funds collected from the fee from construction or building permits and to report its findings to the General Assembly by June 20, 2008.
Status: Labor & Industry committee.
