HB 50 — An Act amending the act of April 14, 2006 (P.L.85, No.28), known as the Water Services Act, in municipal authority approval of actions, further providing for definitions.

PRINTER'S NO.   40

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 50
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY BOROWSKI, MADSEN, KRUEGER, SAPPEY, KAZEEM, KHAN,
        GIRAL, KENYATTA, PROBST, SANCHEZ, BURGOS, HILL-EVANS, KUZMA,
        CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, SHUSTERMAN, MALAGARI AND DONAHUE,
        JANUARY 14, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 14, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of April 14, 2006 (P.L.85, No.28), entitled "An
 2      act requiring State and local approval for terminations or
 3      transfers by municipal authorities; authorizing and requiring
 4      cities, boroughs, townships, municipal authorities and public
 5      utility companies engaged in the supplying of water to shut
 6      off the supply of water for nonpayment of sewer, sewerage or
 7      sewage treatment rentals, rates or charges imposed by
 8      municipal authorities organized by counties of the second
 9      class, by cities of the second class, by cities of the second
10      class A, by cities of the third class, by boroughs or by
11      townships of the first or second class; authorizing and
12      requiring them to supply to such authorities lists of metered
13      water readings and flat-rate water bills and other data;
14      authorizing them to act as billing and collecting agents for
15      such authorities; conferring certain powers upon the
16      Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission in connection
17      therewith; requiring certain procedures to be followed in
18      residential buildings; and making a related repeal," in
19      municipal authority approval of actions, further providing
20      for definitions.
21      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
22   hereby enacts as follows:
23      Section 1.    The definitions of "authority" and "city" in
24   section 301 of the act of April 14, 2006 (P.L.85, No.28), known
25   as the Water Services Act, are amended to read:
26   Section 301.    Definitions.
 1      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
 2   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
 3   context clearly indicates otherwise:
 4      "Authority."      A body politic and corporate which meets all of
 5   the following:
 6          (1)   Is established by a city and incorporated under any
 7      of the following:
 8                (i)    The former act of June 28, 1935 (P.L.463,
 9          No.191), entitled, "An act providing, for a limited
10          period of time, for the incorporation, as bodies
11          corporate and politic, of 'Authorities' for
12          municipalities; defining the same; prescribing the
13          rights, powers, and duties of such Authorities;
14          authorizing such Authorities to acquire, construct,
15          improve, maintain, and operate projects, and to borrow
16          money and issue bonds therefor; providing for the payment
17          of such bonds, and prescribing the rights of the holders
18          thereof; conferring the right of eminent domain on such
19          Authorities; authorizing such Authorities to enter into
20          contracts with and to accept grants from the Federal
21          Government or any agency thereof; and for other
22          purposes."
23                (ii)    The former act of May 2, 1945 (P.L.382,
24          No.164), known as the Municipality Authorities Act of
25          1945.
26                (iii)    53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 56 (relating to municipal
27          authorities).
28          (2)   Provides water [and] or sewer services in accordance
29      with all of the following:
30                (i)    The water or sewer services, or both, are

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 1          provided, either by an agreement with a municipality or
 2          directly, to users who are residents of one or more
 3          municipalities outside the boundaries of the city.
 4                (ii)    The total number of residents of municipalities
 5          which are outside the boundaries of the city and in which
 6          water or sewer services, or both, are offered or provided
 7          exceeds by at least 50% the number of residents who
 8          reside within the boundaries of the city.
 9          (3)   Owns:
10                (i)    a sewer, sewer system or parts of a sewer or
11          sewer system or sewage treatment works; [and] or
12                (ii)    a waterworks, water supply works or water
13          distribution system.
14      "City."   A city of the third class, including a city of the
15   third class which has adopted a home rule charter [and has a
16   population of not more than 30,000].
17      * * *
18      Section 2.      This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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