WILLIAMS COMMENTS ON EMINENT DOMAIN BILL PASSAGE

 HARRISBURG, APRIL 26 – State Sen. Connie Williams voted Tuesday to limit government’s ability to take private property for private development.

 The Senate unanimously passed an amended Senate Bill 881and sent it to the governor’s office. To move the bill forward, the legislature agreed to a compromise that would ensure the measure would not apply to property that is already under threat of condemnation. Norristown, Philadelphia and Chester revitalization work were protected through an exemption. Williams worked with her colleagues in the House and in the Senate to ensure that Norristown was included in the exemptions.

 Earlier this week, the House concurred in Senate amendments to House Bill 2054 (another bill dealing with the state’s eminent domain law) and sent it to the governor’s office, as well.

 Together the bills would make significant changes to Pennsylvania’s eminent domain law. The Senate bill protects the rights of property owners against the threat of eminent domain abuses and the House bill provides for enhanced compensation for homeowners, businesses and farmers in the event their property is taken through eminent domain proceedings. Both bills were introduced in reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Kelo decision.

 “I received a great deal of constituent input on this issue, which is hitting so close to home for us,” Williams said. “I was pleased to see so many constituents educating themselves on this issue and getting involved in state level public policy. I think this final compromise legislation will address many of the concerns in a fair and balanced way, while protecting property owners.”

 The Kelo decision, which was passed down by the U.S. Supreme Court in June, involved the city of New London, Conn., which allowed the city to take 15 homes so that a mixed-use waterfront development could be built.

 “The ruling certainly made a lot of people sit up and take notice of eminent domain laws in their own states,” Williams said. “It was the impetus that Pennsylvania needed to update its own eminent domain law, which was antiquated in many ways. It is now up to the governor to decide if the legislative proposals will adequately balance the rights of property owners with the development needs of communities. If he signs the measures, then we will have a new eminent domain law in Pennsylvania.”

 Among other things, the legislation would ensure more quantitative measures are used to determine blight and condemnation. Under the proposal, specific conditions would have to be met – such as threats to health and safety, abandonment and tax delinquency – before an area could be considered blighted.