URBAN AFFAIRS AND HOUSING COMMITTEE 09/24/08

The Senate Housing and Urban Affairs met on Wednesday, September 24, 2008, and reported out the following bill as amended:

SB 1291 - The legislation amends Title 53 by creating the Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Act.  The bill details about the actions that can be taken against owners of blighted areas, responsibilities of mortgage lenders, state and local government permit denials among other aspects.  The bill also establishes the Property Maintenance Code Violations Registry. Amendment A09311 was offered which takes out the language for conservatorship and sale of blighted and abandoned properties.  A vote of 10-1 was recorded.

URBAN AFFAIRS AND HOUSING COMMITTEE 07/03/08

The Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee met on July 3, 2008 and reported out the following bill as committed:

HB2188 (Rep. Walko) This bill would establish the Abandoned and Blighted Property Conservatorship Act. The act would allow for court-appointed conservators to bring residential, commercial and industrial buildings into municipal code compliance when owners fail to do so.

The bill was reported out with an 8-2 vote.

URBAN AFFAIRS AND HOUSING COMMITTEE 06/27/08

On Friday, June 27, 2008, the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee met and reported out the following bill as committed:

HB1674 (Rep. Freeman) This bill would provide for the appointment of police officers by a city or county housing authority, other than a First Class City, which is already authorized to appoint officers under the law. 

A vote of 8-1 was recorded.

URBAN AFFAIRS AND HOUSING COMMITTEE 06/18/08

The Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee met on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 and reported out the following bills as amended:

HB2295 (Rep. Petrone) This bill would also amend the Uniform Condominium Act of Title 68 to provide that the six months of unpaid expense assessments due prior to the date of a judicial sale shall be paid out of the proceeds from the judicial sale of the unit.

Senator Pippy offered Amendment A07539:  This would amend the Unit Property Act of Title 68 by permitting a condominium association, created pursuant to the Unit Property Act of 1963, to adopt the Uniform Condominium Act if 67%, down from the current requirement of 100%, of the association’s members agree. 

The amendment and the bill both received a 10-0 vote.

URBAN AFFAIRS AND HOUSING COMMITTEE 03/13/08

The Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee met on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 and reported out the following bills as committed:

SB1400 (Pippy):  This bill would amend the Housing Finance Agency Law to create the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Program.  A vote of 10-0 was recorded.

SB1401 (Rhoades):  This bill would amend the Housing Finance Agency Law to create the Home Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Program.  A vote of 9-0 was recorded.

SB1402 (Pippy): This bill would amend the Housing Finance Agency Law to add a section to reimburse the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) for losses incurred by its predatory mortgage abatement programs.  A vote of 9-0 was recorded.

URBAN AFFAIRS AND HOUSING COMMITTEE 02/12/08

The senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee met on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 and reported out the following bills:

Reported as amended (9-1):

SB 906, PN1772: (Sen. Browne) This bill would amend the Landlord Tenant Act of 1951 and provide for certain guidelines for removing and disposing of abandoned personal property.

Reported as committed (unanimously):

SB963, PN1157: (Sen. Greenleaf) This bill would amend Title 68 (Real and Personal Property) and permit a condominium association to adopt the Uniform Condominium Act if 67% of the association’s members agree.

URBAN AFFAIRS AND HOUSING COMMITTEE 11/28/07

The senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee met on Wednesday, September 28, 2007 and unanimously reported out the following bill as amended:

SB 486  This bill would amend the Housing Finance Agency Law, further providing for the Homeowner’s Emergency Assistance Program, for notice and institution of foreclosure proceedings, for notice requirements, for assistance payments and for repayment; and for an ongoing foreclosure study in Pennsylvania. 

Senator Browne offered Amendment A04200 that, among other items, further defined the authority and duties of the Housing Finance Agency.  This amendment would mandate that the agency will maintain and publish via website, an up-to-date list of approved credit counseling agencies in each county for the purpose of meeting with and assisting mortgagors in default. 

A vote of 9-0 was recorded for both the amendment and the bill.

URBAN AFFAIRS AND HOUSING COMMITTEE 09/26/07

The senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee met on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 and unanimously reported out the following bill:

SB 465 This bill would amend the Pennsylvania Innkeepers' Rights Act, providing for criminal background checks for prospective employees who would have access to room keys.

The bill was reported out by a 9-0 vote

URBAN AFFAIRS AND HOUSING COMMITTEE 03/27/07

The Senate Urban Affairs and Housing met on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 and reported out the following:

SR 45, PN 153:  The resolution urges the United States Congress to provide equitable funding to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for quality affordable housing.  The bill went over as committed with a 9-0 vote.