Visitability-plank-ferlo

==FERLO INTRODUCES VISITABILITY TAX CREDIT==
PITTSBURGH, March 17, 2006 - State Senator Jim Ferlo (D-Pittsburgh)
announced today, as he stood with statewide disability advocates and the
home builders, that Senate Bill 1158 would allow municipalities to award
tax credits to homeowners who make improvements or build their homes to
meet visitability standards.
"Visitability is a common sense idea. It is about accessibility,
dignity and the ability of our older citizens and those in our community
with physical challenges to live and grow old comfortably in their
homes," Ferlo said. "Light switches that are lower, zero-step
entranceways, first floor powder rooms, and bathroom walls that can
accommodate grab bars safely are just a few of the easy and inexpensive
ways to plan for a residence that can be adapted to a homeowner's
changing needs."
The legislation was created in close collaboration with the
Pennsylvania Builders Association and disability advocates. The bill has
18 co-sponsors and has quickly gained steam in the Senate. Its intent is
to help homeowners avoid the excessive expense of renovation and
retrofitting these changes since they will already be in place from the
start.
"Alongside my colleague, Senator Jim Rhoades (R-Schuylkill), and with
the help of the Pennsylvania Builders Association and statewide
disability advocates, I will work toward passage of this measure in the
Legislature." Ferlo said.
Senator Ferlo is the Minority Chair of the Senate Local Government
committee where the bill will likely be referred. "I have every
confidence in Senator Erickson, our committee's chairman. My
discussions with him have been nothing but positive and I am convinced
he will recognize the merits of this bill," Senator Ferlo said.
"In my role as a URA Board member, I will encourage public
development funds to be put toward housing that meets visitability
guidelines. It's just common sense to make sure homes meet standards
that accommodate the infirmed elderly and physically challenged
residents."
==Contact==
:SENATOR JIM FERLO, PHONE: (412) 621-3006, jferlo@pasenate.com
::CONTACT: PAUL SVOBODA (412) 427-9462, csvoboda@pasenate.com
==Link==
* Visitability
Category: Planks_from_elsewhere