Pennsylvania HB 1462: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in duties and powers of boards of school directors, providing for broadcast of interscholastic athletic competitions.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1722
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1462
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY STRUZZI, M. BROWN, BERNSTINE, FLEMING, FLICK,
KRUPA, NEILSON, SMITH, STENDER AND WARNER, MAY 14, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MAY 14, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in duties and powers of boards of
school directors, providing for broadcast of interscholastic
athletic competitions.
This act may be referred to as The Fair Play Broadcasting
Act.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 525.1. Broadcast of Interscholastic Athletic
Competitions.--(a) Notwithstanding any policy of the
Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, in any
interscholastic athletic competition in this Commonwealth, the
visiting team for a school entity shall have the same rights to
provide radio broadcasting, video streaming and telegraphic
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play-by-play accounts as the home team for a school entity if
the visiting team meets any of the following criteria:
(1) The visiting team has a valid agreement to provide radio
broadcasting, video streaming or telegraphic play-by-play
accounts between a media organization and the board of school
directors of the school entity.
(2) The visiting team has a curricular program for secondary
school students that typically provides radio broadcasting,
video streaming or telegraphic play-by-play for the visiting
team's home games.
(b) The provisions of this section shall apply to
interscholastic athletic competitions beginning in the 2025-2026
school year.
(c) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Interscholastic athletic competition" shall mean an athletic
competition conducted between or among school entities situated
in counties of the second class, second class A, third class,
fourth class, fifth class, sixth class, seventh class and eighth
class.
"Nonpublic school" shall mean as defined in section 923.3-
A(b).
"Public school" shall mean a school district, charter school,
regional charter school or cyber charter school operating within
this Commonwealth.
"School entity" shall mean a public school or nonpublic
school that provides interscholastic athletic opportunities for
secondary school students and is a member of the Pennsylvania
Interscholastic Athletic Association.
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"Secondary school student" shall mean a student who attends a
school entity in grades seven through twelve.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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