State Legislative Budget and Finance Committee study recommends PIAA make changes

By: Don Rebel
Tuesday, March 24, 2026 | 5:32 PM

A newly released study requested by State Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver, recommends changes to current PIAA policies.

“My resolution that passed last year created the actual study,” Matzie said. “The Legislative Budget Finance Committee released it to the committee (Tuesday) who voted to accept the report.”

Matzie, who is chair of the House Majority Caucus and the longest-serving member of the Pennsylvania Athletic Oversight Committee, called on the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct the study based on concerns the PIAA’s system of classifying schools for competition puts student-athletes at risk by forcing them to compete against wealthier schools with bigger budgets and larger rosters.

Matzie said the study’s findings and recommendations demonstrate the need for updated PIAA policies relative to how transfers are monitored and adjudicated, where and how certain private, charter and co-op schools get their student-athletes and how championship sites are determined.

The report recommends the PIAA:

• Establish a statewide body to independently record, monitor and adjudicate student-athlete transfers among member schools.

“The study from the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee is who recommends an independent statewide body,” Matzie said.

• Revise its policy for feeder schools, which pipeline student-athletes into specific senior high schools, by strengthening the feeder school definition for private schools to ensure that member schools across the state are operating under uniform, clearly specified guidelines.

“The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee in their audit recommend a tightening of feeder schools,” Matzie said. “The PIAA did remark that they are actively examining this with a subcommittee.”

• Document clear requirements for potential championship host venues, clear procedures for its championship site selection process and the extent to which each championship site proposal meets the requirements listed in its Request for Proposal.

“The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee looked at championship sites and selections and found that they select sites similar to other states and jurisdictions and had no recommendation,” Matzie said.

The study was launched after the House, in late 2024, adopted Matzie’s resolution calling for a comprehensive study of the PIAA and its decision-making processes and operations.

In that time, the PIAA underwent a leadership change, as Mark Byers replaced the retired Bob Lombardi as executive director.

“With the change in leadership at the PIAA and in light of some of their more recent, positive actions, I am hopeful that these recommendations will be implemented as soon as practicable,” Matzie said in release.

“As a member of the PA Athletic Oversight Committee, I am prepared to take up the task of putting these changes into place legislatively, if necessary. Moving forward, I stand ready to work with PIAA executive director Byers and the board to ensure that all school districts and, most importantly, all of our student-athletes are treated with fairness and consistency.”