Gov. Wolf Vetoes COVID-19 Resolution, Signs 6 New Laws

HARRISBURG, PA — Gov. Tom Wolf on Tuesday signed six bills, including two police reform laws, and vetoed a House Resolution calling for an end to his disaster declaration for the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wolf vetoed House Resolution 836, which the Pennsylvania Supreme Court last month determined was “a legal nullity.”

In June, the legislature passed a resolution directing Wolf to end the COVID-19 disaster emergency declaration and lift all shutdown orders. Wolf fired back, saying the current disaster emergency for coronavirus remains in place and is needed for various assistance programs.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court weighed in, saying the state General Assembly can't unilaterally end Wolf's emergency declaration.

Wolf on Tuesday also signed two police reform laws — House bills 1841 and 1910. Both passed unanimously in the House and Senate.

“A little over a month ago I met with leaders of Black communities in Philadelphia and Harrisburg to discuss ways we can improve law enforcement to make our commonwealth safer for every Pennsylvanian,” Wolf said. “Today, I am signing two bills that will take steps toward achieving this goal.”

House Bill 1841 requires a thorough background check for law enforcement applicants before becoming employed. It requires a law enforcement agency to disclose employment information.

The bill also establishes an electronic database housed and maintained by the Municipal Police Officers’ Training and Education Training Commission that contains separation records of law enforcement officers.

A hiring report that indicates the prospective law enforcement agency’s reason and rationale must be completed if a law enforcement agency hires a person whose separation record includes excessive force, harassment, theft, discrimination, sexual abuse or misconduct, domestic violence, coercion of a false confession, filing a false report, or a judicial finding of dishonesty.

House Bill 1910 requires mental health evaluations, with a focus on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, as a condition of continued employment.

The evaluation may be upon request of a law enforcement officer or a police chief or within 30 days of an incident of the use of lethal force. The bill also requires training for police officers on trauma-informed care, use of deadly force, de-escalation and harm reduction techniques, community and cultural awareness, implicit bias, procedural justice and reconciliation techniques.

Under the bill, magisterial district judges are required to complete a course on the identification and reporting of suspected child abuse and court proceedings involving children.

The bills are the first two pieces of legislation from the governor’s police reform executive actions announced in the wake of the death of George Floyd, who died in police custody in Minneapolis on Memorial Day.

Wolf also signed into law:

House Bill 1860, which amends the Urban Redevelopment Law to permit any municipality to establish a redevelopment authority. Specifically, this bill removes the definition of “city” from the law and replaces the references to a “city” with “municipality.” Further, the bill adds the term "incorporated town" to the existing definition of municipality.

House Bill 2045, which authorizes the granting and conveyance of certain lands in Ohiopyle Borough, Fayette County in exchange for different lands in Ohiopyle Borough.

Senate Bill 352, which establishes the Tax Exemption and Mixed-Use Incentive Program Act. Specifically, the bill authorizes local taxing authorities to provide for tax abatement incentives for certain deteriorated industrial, commercial, business and residential properties.

Senate Bill 934, which amends the Human Services Code to require that all child care centers and family child care homes have an operable and properly maintained fire detection device or system within their facility that is regularly inspected and tested.