Gov. Wolf Signs 5 New Bills Into Law

HARRISBURG, PA — Five new laws are in the books in Pennsylvania after Gov. Tom Wolf signed several bills Tuesday, including a package of bills aimed to bring consistency to the rules of succession for county district attorney vacancies.

Wolf said the package will bring "needed clarity and transparency to county government appointments." The laws are crafted so as to ensure vacancies are "filled in an appropriate manner the offices are able to provide quality services to the individuals they serve.”

Senate Bills 84, 85, and 86 ensure that in the event of a district attorney vacancy, the first district attorney will be appointed or the judges of the county court of pleas shall fill the vacancy by appointment.

The bills in that package are: Senate Bill 84, Senate Bill 85 and Senate Bill 86.

The legislation states:

If any vacancy shall occur in the office of district attorney in a county of the second class A or third class, either by death, resignation, removal from office or from the county, or otherwise, the judges of the court of common pleas shall supply such vacancy by the appointment of a competent person to fill the office during the balance of the unexpired term.

Two additional bills were signed into law.

Those include House Bill 157, which establishes an agency to create the linkage necessary for the planning of an economic development system.

House Bill 11 designates a portion of Route 92 in Luzerne County as the Robert F. Kile Sr., Memorial Highway. Kile was a township supervisor and fire chief who was killed in a shooting last year.