Districts would get power in Senate bill

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

The state Senate Education Committee on Friday voted 10 to 1 in favor of House Bill 2787, which would officially give local school districts the power to decide what fall sports and activities are allowed.

The bill states “the governing authority of a school entity or nonpublic school shall have the exclusive authority to determine whether to hold school sports activities, including competitions, intramural play and scrimmages, and other in-person extracurricular activities during the 2020-2021 school year.”

Of those voting in favor of the bill Friday was state Sen. Jim Brewster, D-McKeesport.

The only committee member voting against the measure was Sen. Daylin Leach, D-Philadelphia. Voting in favor were Republican Sens. David Arnold, Ryan Aument, Patrick Browne, Joseph Scarnati and Robert Tomlinson and Democratic Sens. Brewster, Andrew Dinniman and Lindsey Williams.

The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration.

It states that schools would be required to develop athletic, health and safety plans that address in-person sports and extracurriculars. Those plans must include safety protocols for permitting visitors and spectators and plans to limit gatherings for both indoor and outdoor sports “to ensure social distancing.”

The protocols must be “consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Considerations for Youth Sports.”

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