Pennsylvania SB 857: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, in powers and duties in general, providing for real property acquisition limitations.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 958
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 857
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HUTCHINSON, STEFANO, J. WARD AND DUSH,
JUNE 18, 2025
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, JUNE 18, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), entitled
"An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct of the
executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth by the
Executive Department thereof and the administrative
departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof,
including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or
Teachers Colleges; abolishing, creating, reorganizing or
authorizing the reorganization of certain administrative
departments, boards, and commissions; defining the powers and
duties of the Governor and other executive and administrative
officers, and of the several administrative departments,
boards, commissions, and officers; fixing the salaries of the
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and certain other executive
and administrative officers; providing for the appointment of
certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and
other assistants and employes in certain departments, boards,
and commissions; providing for judicial administration; and
prescribing the manner in which the number and compensation
of the deputies and all other assistants and employes of
certain departments, boards and commissions shall be
determined," in powers and duties in general, providing for
real property acquisition limitations.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) There is a compelling need to assess and rationalize
Commonwealth policies relating to the acquisition,
maintenance and retention of real property by the Department
of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania Game
Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
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(2) Existing legal requirements and Commonwealth
policies are inadequate to assure the proper balance between
public and private land and the interests of citizens and
local governments in multiple, beneficial use of land in this
Commonwealth.
(3) Current land acquisition policies of the Department
of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania Game
Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission lack
coordination and place undue burdens on the scarce fiscal
resources of local governments.
(4) The impact of land transactions between tax
advantaged, charitable organizations or land trusts and the
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the
Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish and
Boat Commission on the real estate tax base of local
municipalities and the private sector must be assessed to
ensure proper allocation of State revenues.
(5) County and municipal governments and individual
citizens are important stakeholders in the process of
formulating public policy government land purchases by the
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the
Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish and
Boat Commission.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known
as The Administrative Code of 1929, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 514.1. Real Property Acquisition Limitations.--(a)
The purchase or trade of land may not be made by or gift of land
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accepted by the Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources, the Pennsylvania Game Commission or the Pennsylvania
Fish and Boat Commission unless the governing body of the county
in which the land is located approves the acquisition.
(b) Prior to completion of purchase or trade of land or
acceptance of a gift of land, municipalities in which the land
to be acquired or traded is located and residents thereof shall
be given thirty (30) days' notice and opportunity to comment on
the acquisition.
Section 2. All acts and parts of acts are repealed insofar
as they are inconsistent with the addition of section 514.1 of
the act.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 90 days.
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