Feb. 21, 2022
HARRISBURG – Legislation authored by Rep. Brett Miller (R-East Hempfield) to fix a statewide issue with the classification of counties has been signed into law.
“The issue was brought to light in a current transition that Lancaster County is undergoing right now,” Miller said. “But codifying the solution into law will now serve all Pennsylvania counties that might face this situation in the future.”
Pennsylvania’s 67 counties are classified by population size. Lancaster County is now in the population stratus to move from a third-class county to a second class 2A county (meaning it’s in the 500,000 to 999,999 population category). Actually, Lancaster County met the qualification after the 2010 Census, but, according to Miller, elected leaders then voted to delay the switch for 10 years for several reasons, including the lack of provisions for 911 emergency services funding and other concerns.
In 2018, the Pennsylvania Legislature made several changes to the county code that addressed many concerns that fueled the vote for the delay in changing Lancaster’s status. One key area that was omitted from that update, though, dealt with prison board administration for second class 2A counties. Miller’s legislation,
House Bill 2143, fixed this omission and set forth a baseline standard for all counties who face this same transition in the future.
The bill earned unanimous passage in the state House and Senate, and the governor recently signed it into law as
Act 13 of 2022.
Rep. Brett Miller
41st Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives