PRINTER'S NO. 2150
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1600
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY BERNSTINE, BARRAR, IRVIN, SIMMONS, JONES, KAIL,
MIHALEK, STAATS, O'NEAL, ORTITAY, DeLUCA, SOLOMON, TOBASH,
PUSKARIC, SCHMITT, FEE, SANKEY, ROAE, ROTHMAN, SCHROEDER,
EVERETT, FRITZ, PICKETT, GAYDOS, RYAN, PYLE, ROZZI AND
READSHAW, JUNE 17, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JUNE 17, 2019
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, for transfer and for
district committees.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Article XVI-A of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
amended by adding sections to read:
Section 1606-A. Playoffs.--(a) The following provisions
shall apply to football, boys' basketball, boys' soccer, girls'
soccer, girls' basketball, girls' volleyball, baseball and
softball interscholastic athletics in this Commonwealth:
(1) For the purpose of interdistrict playoffs, separate
playoff systems shall be established by the association for
athletics for public schools and nonpublic schools, except that
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the championship shall be between the public school champion and
nonpublic school champion that won in the separate playoff
systems. There shall be an equal number of public and nonpublic
schools in each interdistrict playoff system. If there is an
insufficient number of qualified nonpublic schools in a
particular classification equal to those in the public school
playoffs, the nonpublic school playoffs in that classification
may still be held. Interdistrict playoff brackets for nonpublic
schools shall be determined by the nonpublic school
representative on the association's board of directors.
(2) If a team forfeits two (2) or more regular season games
in one season, that team shall be ineligible for association
playoffs.
(3) The association may determine whether the separate
interdistrict playoff system is utilized in other sports if
there are at least fifty (50) public schools and fifty (50)
nonpublic schools participating in the sport.
Section 1607-A. Transfer.--(a) A student shall be
immediately eligible to participate in interscholastic athletics
after transferring schools as long as the student meets all
other eligibility standards, including, but not limited to, age,
limit of eligibility, per-participation physical exam, grade
point average and consent and liability release at the school
which the student attends.
(b) The association may restrict in-season transfer
eligibility in a given sport when a transfer occurs after more
than one-half of the regular season contests have been played,
but shall allow in-season eligibility in instances where exigent
circumstances are present, including, but not limited to,
transfers resulting from change of residence, military-related
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relocations or economic necessity.
Section 1608-A. District Committees.--(a) For the purposes
of organization, legislation and administration, the association
must be divided into athletic districts as established under the
bylaws of the association.
(b) Each athletic district shall establish a district
committee that shall exercise powers and duties as established
in the bylaws of the association.
(c) The makeup of each district committee shall be decided
by the members of that particular athletic district subject to
the requirements of the bylaws of the association, provided that
the representation of public and nonpublic schools is
proportional to the number of public and nonpublic schools in
the athletic district.
(d) Neither the association nor district committees may
sanction or permit the following:
(1) The formation of a league by members of the association
in which nonpublic school members are excluded from league
membership.
(2) Association members to refuse to schedule regular season
contests with nonpublic school members.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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