Erik M. Hume, Esq. gave testimony at the State Capitol Building in Harrisburg on November 20 for the Pennsylvania Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committees on the data collection on common interest ownership communities (CIOCs). As Vice Chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Real Property, Probate and Trust Section, Hume presented informational background about CIOCs and recommended the approval of Senate Bill 802 on behalf of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Saxton and Stump Attorney Erik Hume Elected as Vice Chair of PBA Real Property Section
The proposed bill would require county planning agencies to collect information about existing CIOCs, such as location, size, roads, wastewater and stormwater systems, and submit the data with their annual reports.
According to a 2011 report produced by the Joint State Government Commission (JSGC), there is little to no public or private data available on CIOCs in Pennsylvania, which creates a cause for concern because of their growing prevalence across the Commonwealth. In many cases, there is no information available on the condition of the infrastructure and who is managing it.
In his testimony, Hume supported the recommendations of the JSGC report and highlighted the major benefits of passing the bill stating that it “will better inform the legislature on policy decisions governing CIOCs as well as infrastructure needs in the Commonwealth.” He also noted that the collection of such data would prove valuable for law enforcement and emergency responders.
The Pennsylvania Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committees heard from seven panelists including attorneys and public officials from around the state. More information about the hearing, including a list of all the panelists and a full recording of their testimonies, can be found on the Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee website here. Hume’s full written testimony is also available here.
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