Pennsylvania Statutes Title 16 P.S. Counties § 3408. Deputies to act in certain cases

(a) Whenever any county officer is authorized or required to appoint a deputy or deputies, such deputy, or principal deputy where there are more than one, shall, during the necessary or temporary absence of his principal, perform all the duties of such principal, and also, in case of a vacancy, until a successor is qualified.

(b) No person temporarily succeeding to any county office by reason of the death or removal of the duly elected or appointed officer shall execute any of the duties of such office until he has first taken oath and filed the bond required of the principal officer.