Current and Future Legislation Proposals
Since the beginning of my new term in January 2008, I have introduced legislation that aims to protect the public good. Most of what I have proposed has been inspired by real life problems city residents have relayed to my staff and I regarding the inefficiencies of government agencies and other societal problems.
Stolen Deeds
Stolen Deeds
- Currently there are criminal scams involving theft of property through the usage of fraudulent deeds. These scams disproportionately target seniors. I introduced a bill which was passed by Council that will make it more difficult for criminal scam artists to victimize law abiding citizens. The new law mandates the city’s Records Departments undertakes specified safeguards when a property transaction has taken place. The requirements:
- No deed shall be recorded in the Department unless a records check, conducted by the Department, verifies that the named grantor on the deed is the record owner of the real estate identified therein, except in the following cases where the grantor may be a person other than the record owner:
- The following deeds shall not be recorded unless they are accompanied by the appropriate documentation as set forth in the legislation
- No deed shall be recorded unless it is delivered to the Department by personal delivery.
- Within thirty (30) days of the recording of any deed, the Department shall notify the record owner of the real estate identified therein, by first class mail, that such deed has been recorded.
- Numerous studies cite cell phone usage while driving as a clear distraction for drivers that causes accidents and deaths.
- In discussions with the Police Department and Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police, I have been reassured of the necessity of this legislation and the commitment on the part of law enforcement to enforcement.
- One of my main legislative priorities this term has been safeguarding the employment of domestic abuse victims.
- In May I introduced a bill mandating unpaid leave of up to eight weeks for employees of businesses of more than fifty workers.
- For those working in a business that has less than fifty employees they are eligible for up to four weeks of leave.
- To be eligible an abuse victim must provide official documentation of abuse.
- Currently under existing federal, state, and city law there is no requirement upon businesses to provide leave for domestic abuse victims. Due to the hospital visits, and court proceedings many domestic abuse victims often lose their jobs. This bill’s main motivation is to stop these occurrences.