Bill Text: PA HR350 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on the impact of common interest ownership communities on local governments and the Commonwealth, the challenges facing the residents and governing bodies of these common interest ownership communities and opportunities for the Commonwealth to assist local governments and common interest ownership communities to deliver adequate services to their residents at an affordable cost.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-7)

Status: (Passed) 2009-07-02 - Adopted [HR350 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HR350-Introduced.html

  

 

    

PRINTER'S NO.  2100

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

No.

350

Session of

2009

  

  

INTRODUCED BY SIPTROTH, SCAVELLO, BARRAR, BRADFORD, CALTAGIRONE, CARROLL, COHEN, DONATUCCI, HENNESSEY, MURT, O'NEILL, PEIFER, READSHAW, SANTONI, WATERS, WATSON AND YOUNGBLOOD, JUNE 12, 2009

  

  

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON URBAN AFFAIRS, JUNE 12, 2009  

  

  

  

A RESOLUTION

  

1

Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a

2

study on the impact of common interest ownership communities

3

on local governments and the Commonwealth, the challenges

4

facing the residents and governing bodies of these common

5

interest ownership communities and opportunities for the

6

Commonwealth to assist local governments and common interest

7

ownership communities to deliver adequate services to their

8

residents at an affordable cost. 

9

WHEREAS, According to the Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley

10

Chapter of the Community Associations Institute, there are

11

approximately 15,000 common interest ownership communities,

12

which have a total of approximately three million property

13

owners in Pennsylvania, which represents an estimated 25% of the

14

population; and

15

WHEREAS, In many instances, common interest ownership

16

communities provide some of the same services that the

17

municipalities in which these communities are located provide to

18

individuals who do not live in common interest ownership

19

communities; and

20

WHEREAS, As a result, residents of common interest

 


1

communities often pay twice for the same services, once in the

2

form of assessments paid to their community association and

3

again in the form of municipal taxes; and

4

WHEREAS, Residents of common interest communities contribute

5

to State-funded programs that provide infrastructure

6

improvements with their State tax dollars, but residents'

7

community associations are often ineligible to apply for these

8

programs to address infrastructure needs; and

9

WHEREAS, The public benefits from various types of

10

infrastructure within the common interest communities,

11

including, but not limited to, storm water management

12

facilities, dams, on-lot septic systems and public roads; and

13

WHEREAS, Because many private wells and on-lot septic systems

14

within common interest communities were constructed before the

15

adoption of the Uniform Construction Code, the municipalities in

16

which they are located may not have inspected them. These wells

17

may be at the end of their operational lives or contaminating

18

the groundwater; and

19

WHEREAS, Rising foreclosure rates and the national economic

20

downturn have made it difficult for common interest ownership

21

communities to collect assessments from an increasing number of

22

residents, thereby making it more difficult to maintain the

23

commonly held property within these communities; therefore be it

24

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint

25

State Government Commission to conduct a study of the impact of

26

common interest ownership communities as described under the

27

Real Estate Cooperative Act, the Uniform Condominium Act and the

28

Uniform Planned Community Act on local governments and the

29

Commonwealth, the challenges facing the residents and governing

30

bodies of common interest ownership communities and

- 2 -

 


1

opportunities for the Commonwealth to assist local governments

2

and common interest ownership communities to deliver adequate

3

services to their residents at an affordable cost; and be it

4

further

5

RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission study,

6

at a minimum, all of the following:

7

(1)  The number of common interest ownership communities

8

in each county.

9

(2)  The number of common interest ownership communities

10

in each municipality.

11

(3)  The approximate amount of State taxes paid each year

12

by residents of interest ownership communities.

13

(4)  The approximate amount of local taxes paid each year

14

by residents of interest ownership communities to each

15

municipality.

16

(5)  The amount and age of current infrastructure within

17

the common interest ownership communities. 

18

(6)  The impact of allowing common interest ownership

19

communities to access State funds for infrastructure

20

improvements.

21

(7)  Whether there are opportunities for the Commonwealth

22

to assist local governments and common interest ownership

23

communities to deliver adequate services to their residents

24

at an affordable cost;

25

and be it further

26

RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission report

27

its findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives

28

no later than one year after the adoption of this resolution.

- 3 -

 


feedback