Gov. Wolf Plans To Veto School Sports Bill, But Override Planned

HARRISBURG, PA — Gov. Tom Wolf plans to veto a bill that would give local school districts exclusive authority to determine whether to hold in-person sports and extracurricular activities during the 2020-21 academic year. The state Senate majority leader said the legislature plans to override the veto.

The bill, which passed in the state Senate on Wednesday and in the state House last week, ensures decisions about school sports and activities are made at the local level, supporters say. But the governor believes the bill is unnecessary, Press Secretary Lyndsay Kensinger said in a statement to Patch.

"The bill is unnecessary given that school districts already have local control on decisions on school sports. Further, the virus is not stopping and spreads more easily when people are in close proximity with one another," Kensinger said in the statement.

According to the state Senate GOP, since the bill originated in the House, that chamber must first gain a two-thirds majority vote in order to override the governor’s veto. A two-thirds majority vote is also needed in the Senate.

The House voted 155-47 on the bill, with 135 votes needed to override a veto. The Senate originally passed the bill by a vote of 39-11, with 34 votes needed for an override.

"We know that local districts are best positioned to know what can and can’t be done safely, and no one has more at stake regarding the health of their children and their community," Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman said. "For the sake of students, parents and communities, we need to pass this legislation and leave local decisions in the hands of the people who know best and are the most impacted."

But the governor has safety reservations about the bill, Kensinger said. It opens the door for the "potential gathering of thousands of people in close proximity, a widely-reported, well-known public health risk."

Kensinger said Wolf and his administration are focused on preventing the spread of the coronavirus "and creating a safe environment for children and students to get back to learning and, if possible, in the classroom."

Further, she noted, the government's priorities at this point should be on helping people impacted by the pandemic, such as funding for small businesses, child care funding, and paid sick leave for employees.

But supporters of the school sports legislation, including Bucks County GOP Chair Pat Poprik, say the measure is "a reasonable approach" that would let communities make their own decisions instead of relying on "bureaucrats in Harrisburg."

Under the legislation, school officials would be tasked with establishing safety protocols for spectators to attend sports and in-person extracurricular activities. The protocols would be consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Considerations for Youth Sports.

Last week, Wolf eased his guidance for fall high school sports competitions, reversing course to allow for spectator to attend games in person. The guidance still calls for a limit of 250 people all told for outdoor events and 25 for indoor events.

In early August, the governor shocked the state when he announced he was recommending no school sports until 2021. The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association's Board of Directors has since voted 25-5 in favor of a sports season this fall.