September 2010
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House Urban Affairs Passes Land Bank Bill

The House Urban Affairs Committee met today to discuss HB 712, also known as the land bank bill. After amending the bill twice and suspending the rules once, the Committee unanimously reported out the amended bill. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.


House Urban Affairs Committee Hosts Informational Briefing on Manufactured Home Industry

The House Urban Affairs Committee held an informational meeting this morning with Mark Conte, DCED’s Chief of the Housing Standards Division; Mary Gaiski, Executive Vice President of the PA Manufactured Housing Association; and Chad Harvey, Executive Director of the Modular Building Systems Association. The briefing served to educate the committee on the differences between manufactured housing and industrialized housing, describe the home building and transportation process in detail, and explain the demands placed on the industry, which generates substantial revenue for the Commonwealth. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the complete story.

House Urban Reports Bills to Help Seniors, Combat Blight

The House Urban Affairs Committee met this morning and amended and reported two bills. The first bill would reduce the time period for adverse possession to ten years in certain instances and the second would give persons joining 55+ manufacture home communities time to review the costs associated with the community before moving in. The members had extensive discussion on both bills, but they were ultimately reported with strong support. A scheduled presentation from DCED was postponed until the next meeting.

Look for the complete story in the Capitol Toolbox this afternoon.

House Urban Affairs Committee Forms Task Forces in areas of Adverse Possession, Land Banking, and Handicap Accessability in Taxicabs; Moves Bills

The House Urban Affairs Committee met to consider bills. HB 1587 and HB 2302 were reported as amended. Chairman Thomas also formed three task forces to come up with legislative recommendations in the areas of adverse possession, land banking, and handicap accessibility in taxicabs. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full discussion.

House Urban Affairs & Policy Committees Conduct Hearing on Land Banks

The House Urban Affairs Committee along with the House Democratic and House Republican Policy Committees held a joint informational hearing on land banks. Dan Kildee, executive director of the Center for Community Progress, made a power point presentation on the land bank program in Flint, Michigan and responded to questions from committee members. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.

House Urban Affairs – 2:00 p.m.

PLS is expanding its coverage to hearings in Philadelphia. Based on availability of reporters in our Philadelphia bureau, we will be covering hearings that take place in and around the city.

Look for coverage of today’s House Urban Affairs Committee hearing on the reorganization of the Philadelphia Board of Revision of Taxes and of the House Democratic Policy Committee hearing on expert testimony in the Capitol Toolbox later this evening.

At the Urban Affairs hearing, Chairman Curtis Thomas (D-Philadelphia) noted how the goal of discussing the future of the board was to create a more equitable tax revision process. Interim Executive Director for the Philadelphia Board of Revisions of Taxes, Richard Negrin, said that he has started programs to better train employees of the BRT by doing interviews with members of the BRT. Other members in attendance included: Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Philadelphia), Rep. Karen Breyer (R-Northampton), and Michael O’Brien (D-Philadelphia).

House Urban Affairs – 9:00 a.m.

The committee held a public hearing on HB 1322. Members heard testimony from the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Regional Housing Legal Services, and the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania on the issue of adverse possession. Check the PLS Capitol Toolbox later today to read the full story.

House Urban Affairs – 10:00am

The House Urban Affairs Committee met today to consider HB 1092, HB 1917, and HB 1942. They reported all bills as committed. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the story.

House Urban Affairs – 10:00 a.m.

The committee held an informational meeting on proposed regulation: 2776 Department of Community and Economic Development 4-91: Industrialized Housing, pursuant to the Industrialized Housing Act. Mark Conte, Chief of the Housing Standards Division of the Department of Community and Economic Development, gave an overview of the regulation and explained the differences between industrial housing and manufactured housing. Check the PLS Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.

House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness – 10:00 a.m.

The committee voted unanimously to report as committed HB 1789. The legislation amends the Public Safety Emergency Telephone Act to establish a method of collection for pre-paid, E-911, wireless service. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.