A bill aiming to update the procedures for ensuring continuity in Pennsylvania’s state government, should a governor or lieutenant governor become incapacitated, has been approved by the Senate State Government Committee. The committee gave its unanimous support to the legislation proposed by Sen. Dave Argall (R-29).
Sen. Argall expressed hope that these procedures would never need to be used but emphasized the importance of being prepared for emergencies. “I hope these procedures will never be necessary; however, we must be prepared if tragedy strikes,” he stated. He noted that the existing law, which is 50 years old, needs modernization as it serves as a guide through significant state emergencies.
The introduction of Senate Bill 460 follows a review conducted by the Senate State Government Committee. This review found inconsistencies in how the Governor and Lieutenant Governor Disability Procedure Law was applied during its three previous uses since its enactment in 1974. Additionally, it highlighted outdated language within the law, such as references to telegrams.
The necessity of these procedures was brought into focus in May 2022 when Lt. Gov. John Fetterman underwent a pacemaker operation after suffering a stroke. The procedures were also utilized in 1993 when Gov. Bob Casey had a heart-liver transplant and again in 2014 during surgery on Gov. Tom Corbett.
