On Christmas day 2022, a disastrous sinkhole in Patton Twp, Pennsylvania disrupted the peaceful and joyous holiday with a horrific collapse that displaced 18 families.  On December 30th, seven more families were displaced by a sinkhole in Allentown.
 
Families displaced by sinkholes, floods, fires and other disasters are unfortunately too common and tragic occurrence in Pennsylvania.  In 2023, there were approximately 2.5 million families displaced in the United States due to natural disasters.  When sewer sinkholes, burst pipes and other ‘unnatural’ disasters are factored in also, the number is much higher.  Families often have limited options when it comes to emergency housing or funding relief in the days immediately following a disaster; especially if that disaster is “too small” to trigger eligibility for Federal disaster assistance.
 
I plan to introduce legislation to provide families with up to 90 days of relief, by allowing hotels and motels a state tax credit equal to the discounted or comped cost of a room donated to a Pennsylvania family displaced by a disaster.


 

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 0013: P.L.6, No.2, P.L.1750, No.226