Pennsylvania SB 1253: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in interscholastic athletics accountability, providing for playoffs and championships.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1545
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 1253
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY FLYNN, MARCH 30, 2026
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, MARCH 30, 2026
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 interscholastic athletics
accountability, providing for playoffs and championships.
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 1606-A. Playoffs and Championships.-- (a) The
association may establish separate playoffs and championships
for athletics for boundary schools and nonboundary schools.
(b) (1) Prior to establishing separate playoffs and
championships for athletics under subsection (a), the board and
the oversight committee shall conduct at least one joint meeting
in each of the districts that comprise the association.
(2) The meetings shall be open to the public in accordance
with 65 Pa.C.S. § 704 (relating to open meetings).
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(3) Notice of each meeting shall be given in compliance with
65 Pa.C.S. § 709 (relating to public notice).
(4) Minutes of the proceedings of each meeting shall be kept
in accordance with 65 Pa.C.S. § 706 (relating to minutes of
meetings, public records and recording of meetings).
(5) The board and oversight committee shall accept sworn
testimony and comments from individuals relating to whether
playoffs should or should not be separated for all or certain
athletics for boundary and nonboundary schools. The board and
the oversight committee may accept written testimony during each
meeting and comments through electronic submission, which must
be submitted no later than ten (10) days after the last
scheduled public meeting.
(c) (1) No later than ten (10) days after the meetings in
subsection (b) are complete, the board shall hold an open
meeting pursuant to 65 Pa.C.S. § 704 to deliberate the
establishment of separate playoffs and championships for
athletics for boundary and nonboundary schools.
(2) At the open meetings, the board shall discuss all of the
following:
(i) Whether the association will require that all sports,
certain sports or no sports conduct separate playoffs and
championships for boundary and nonboundary schools.
(ii) If a determination is made that separate playoffs and
championships will be required, the board shall discuss the
fiscal impact the requirement may or may not have on boundary
and nonboundary schools.
(iii) All relevant testimony and comments provided during
the district hearings that provide rationale in support or
opposition to separate playoffs and championships for boundary
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and nonboundary schools.
(3) The board shall reserve time for public comments from
individuals in attendance at the meeting before rendering a
final decision.
(4) After the public comment period in paragraph (3) has
closed, the board shall recess to executive session to
deliberate the following options:
(i) returning to the public meeting to hold a vote to alter
playoffs and championships for all sports;
(ii) returning to the public meeting to hold a vote to alter
playoffs and championships for certain sports; or
(iii) returning to the public meeting to make a statement
and justify why no changes are being made to playoffs and
championships for any sports.
(5) Once the board selects an option under paragraph (4),
the public meeting shall resume and the chosen option shall be
implemented.
(d) No later than five (5) days after the meeting in
subsection (c), the association shall provide its decision in
writing to the oversight committee along with the reasoning
behind the decision.
(e) 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:
"Board." The Executive Board of the Pennsylvania
Interscholastic Athletic Association.
"Boundary school." A public school. The term does not
include a charter school.
"Nonboundary school." A charter school, a parochial school
or a private school.
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"Oversight committee." The Pennsylvania Athletic Oversight
Committee established in section 1605-A.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 30 days.
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