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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Eugene DePasquale |
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House passes DePasquale-sponsored bill to expand code enforcement
HARRISBURG, April 1 – State Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York, announced that the state House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation today that he introduced which would encourage municipalities to hire additional code enforcement officers by subsidizing their salaries.
DePasquale said the measure (H.B. 982) would create a Code Enforcement Challenge Grant program, which would provide grants of 25 percent of the salary of each additional code enforcement officer hired by a municipality for a period of three years. The program would be administered by the state Department of Community and Economic Development.
With additional code enforcement officers on staff, DePasquale said municipalities would be better able to address the public health and safety issues that arise from properties that are in disrepair.
"Many communities would be able to confidently invest in refurbishing and rebuilding their main streets and downtown communities with this program," DePasquale said. "Being able to hire additional code enforcement officers ensures that while revitalization of cities takes place, buildings and other structures are still safe."
The bill will now be sent to the Senate for consideration.
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