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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Peter J. Daley |
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Daley bill moves from committee
HARRISBURG, May 22 – Legislation to correct an oversight in the local tax collection law was unanimously voted out of the House Local Government Committee today, according to the sponsor, state Rep. Peter J. Daley II, D-Fayette/Washington.
“After Bob Petriello, a tax collector in Brownsville Borough died, attorney Herbert Mitchell approached me about a deficiency in the law. As the executrix of the estate, and based on current Pennsylvania law, Mr. Petriello’s daughter had an obligation to close the books, but she didn’t have the authority to write the necessary checks to the respective government entities,” Daley said. “The problem is that current law does not empower her to make settlement, only to collect taxes. When the law was written, I am certain that no one intended to create these types of issues with closing the estate of a tax collector.”
Daley’s legislation would expand the authority of an executor to include disbursement of funds. An executor would have full access to the office of a tax collector upon his or her death, including (but not limited to) all tax records, receipts, bank records and other records of the office, for the purpose of making settlement. Additionally, the individual would have the ability to draw the appropriate checks on the tax collector’s account in order to transfer the taxes collected to the appropriate authority or entity.
“Pennsylvania’s tax collectors have a great fiduciary responsibility that can be put in limbo should they unexpectedly pass away,” Daley said. “Closing an estate can be an emotional and difficult time for families. Pennsylvania law should provide the necessary tools and guidance for the individuals charged with handling a tax collector's estate, so that families have the appropriate guidelines for properly closing the books and so that tax dollars can be appropriately disbursed without delay.”