Pennsylvania HB 1951: An Act imposing requirements when lands containing certain State correctional institutions are offered for sale; and imposing duties on the Department of Corrections and the Office of Attorney General.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2459
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1951
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY CONKLIN, KEPHART, HILL-EVANS, NEILSON, ARMANINI
AND CIRESI, OCTOBER 15, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, OCTOBER 16, 2025
AN ACT
Imposing requirements when lands containing certain State
correctional institutions are offered for sale; and imposing
duties on the Department of Corrections and the Office of
Attorney General.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the State
Correctional Institution Land Sale Transparency Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Approval certificate." A certificate issued by the Office
of Attorney General that indicates the acceptance of a bid to
purchase real estate and certifies the Office of Attorney
General has adhered to the requirements of this act.
"Department." The Department of Corrections of the
Commonwealth.
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"State correctional institution." A State correctional
institution as defined in 61 Pa.C.S. § 102 (relating to
definitions) that is permanently closing at the direction of the
department according to the act of October 24, 2018 (P.L.813,
No.133), known as the Public Safety Facilities Act.
Section 3. Sale of real estate of State correctional
institution.
In addition to any other requirement under law, if real
estate that was formerly a State correctional institution is
offered for sale:
(1) The department shall transmit a notice of intention
to sell real estate of the State correctional institution to
the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the next
available issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The notice
shall include a description of the real estate and
information on how to submit bids to the Attorney General for
purchase of the real estate.
(2) Bids for the purchase of the real estate under this
act shall be accepted by the Attorney General for 30 days.
(3) The Attorney General shall review bids within seven
days after closure of the bidding process. The Attorney
General shall approve the sale of the real estate to the
highest responsible bidder with acceptable conditions.
(4) The department, in consultation with the Attorney
General, may establish a reserve amount of money that must be
met prior to acceptance of an offer under paragraph (3).
(5) The Attorney General shall submit the names of all
bidders and bid amounts to the Legislative Reference Bureau
for publication in the next available issue of the
Pennsylvania Bulletin after the bidding process is complete.
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(6) The Attorney General shall transmit the name and bid
amount accepted by the Attorney General to the Legislative
Reference Bureau for publication in the next available issue
of the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
(7) The deed conveying the real estate to the highest
responsible bidder shall be filed with the office of the
recorder of deeds located in the county where the real estate
is situate and must be accompanied by an approval
certificate.
Section 4. Application.
This act shall apply to the sale of real estate on which a
State correctional institution is located if the sale occurs on
or after the effective date of this section.
Section 5. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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