HB 273 — An Act amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in neighborhood blight reclamation and revitalization, providing for county property maintenance code and for Municipal Codes Enforcement Grant Program and municipal neighborhood mitigation fund; and imposing penalties.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.

217 PRINTER'STHE NO.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.

981273 THE2025 GENERALINTRODUCED ASSEMBLYBY OFMERSKI, PENNSYLVANIASANCHEZ, HOUSEHILL-EVANS, BILLSCHLOSSBERG, SessionHARKINS, KUZMA, FREEMAN, DONAHUE, GIRAL AND MAYES, JANUARY 22, 2025 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, JANUARY 22, 2025 AN ACT Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of No.the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in neighborhood blight reclamation and revitalization, providing for county property maintenance code and for Municipal Codes Enforcement Grant Program and and making an appropriation.ation fund;

273imposing 2025penalties; INTRODUCED BY MERSKI, SANCHEZ, HILL-EVANS, SCHLOSSBERG, HARKINS, KUZMA, FREEMAN, DONAHUE, GIRAL AND MAYES, JANUARY 22, 2025 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MARCH 17, 2025 AN ACT Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in neighborhood blight reclamation and revitalization, providing for county property maintenance code and for Municipal Codes Enforcement Grant Program and municipal neighborhood mitigation fund;

ANDThe imposingGeneral <--Assembly penalties;of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

and making an appropriation.

<-- The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

and (2) shall be deemed to have been legally recorded if the ordinance by which the code was adopted by reference has been 20250HB0273PN098120250HB0273PN0217 - 2 - recorded with an accompanying notation stating where the full text of the code has been filed.

20250HB0273PN098120250HB0273PN0217 - 3 - (j) Limitation.-- (1) Except as provided in subsection (k), the powers of the governing body of a county to enact, amend and repeal ordinances under this section shall be limited to land in those municipalities, wholly or partly within the county, that have no property maintenance ordinance, based in whole or in part on a standard or nationally recognized property maintenance code, in effect at the time a property maintenance ordinance is introduced before the governing body of the county and until the municipality's property maintenance ordinance is in effect.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in an intergovernmental cooperation agreement, a fine, forfeited recognizance or other forfeiture imposed, lost or forfeited for violation of a property maintenance ordinance subject to county enforcement under this subsection, shall be payable to the 20250HB0273PN098120250HB0273PN0217 - 4 - county.

"Municipality." A county, city, borough, incorporated town, township or home rule, optional plan or optional charter municipality or municipal authority within this Commonwealth or any entity formed under Subchapter A of Chapter 23 (relating to 20250HB0273PN098120250HB0273PN0217 - 5 - intergovernmental cooperation).

"Serious violation." A violation of a code that poses an <-- imminent threat to the health and safety of a dwelling occupant, occupants in surrounding structures or a passerby.

(c) Eligibility.--In order to receive a grant under this section, a municipality must submit an application acceptable to 20250HB0273PN098120250HB0273PN0217 - 6 - the department and that addresses the criteria established under subsection (b).

20250HB0273PN098120250HB0273PN0217 - 7 - (2) for a second violation, in the amount of at least $250 and not more than $500;

The sum of $10,000,000 is appropriated to the <-- Department of Community and Economic Development for the purpose of implementing the Municipal Codes Enforcement Grant Program, including administrative costs.

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