By Marley Parish of Spotlight PA State College

BELLEFONTE — When landslides and sinkholes damage Pennsylvania houses, homeowners often have limited options to cover repairs and can end up stuck paying a mortgage on an unlivable property.

Now, state House lawmakers want a government-run insurance program to help fill this gap.

A bill introduced by state Rep. Emily Kinkead (D., Allegheny) would use $10 million from the state’s General Fund to establish the proposed Landslide and Sinkhole Insurance Program, modeled after a similar plan that helps homeowners cover damage from collapsed mines.

After the initial taxpayer-funded investment, Kinkead hopes the program — which would initially reimburse applicants up to $150,000 — becomes self-sustaining through premium payments.

The leg

See Full Page