State legislators support in-depth study of PIAA policies, structure, finances

By: Chris Harlan
Tuesday, October 22, 2024 | 11:07 PM

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State legislators have voted to launch a comprehensive review of the PIAA.

The “current status, management, structure, policies and finances” of the high school athletic association will be studied by the state Legislative Budget and Finance Committee under a House resolution passed Tuesday. The legislation instructed the committee to issue a report and make recommendations within 180 days.

The House voted 152-50 in favor of the resolution sponsored by state Rep. Rob Matzie (D-Beaver), an outspoken critic of the PIAA and a member of the Pa. Athletic Oversight Committee. Matzie introduced the legislation in January when Aliquippa School District and its football team were fighting against the PIAA competitive-balance rule.

“In my capacity as one of the six legislative appointees to the PA Athletic Oversight Committee, I have heard deep concerns over the policies, procedures and decision making of the PIAA,” Matzie said in a statement. “I believe it is time to take a deliberate and considered approach in conducting a comprehensive study of the PIAA.”

The committee was tasked with reviewing the PIAA’s:

• Financial transactions from the past three years

• Broadcast contracts from the past four years

• Name, Image and Likeness policy

• Competition Formula used in the competitive-balance rule

• Transfer policies

• The process used for choosing host sites for state championships

• The composition of the PIAA board of directors

• The “expansion and enhancement of the oversight authority” of the Pa. Athletic Oversight Committee

The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee is comprised of six state representatives and six state senators. State Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hills (R-York) chairs the committee with state Sen. James Brewster (D-Allegheny) as vice chairman.

“To be clear, this is not an effort to legislatively wrest control from the PIAA,” Matzie said in an earlier memorandum seeking co-sponsors. “But rather a measured attempt to closely examine the current atmosphere and actions of the PIAA and identify the areas most in need of revision and/or improvement. It’s been over two decades since a thorough study of the PIAA has been performed. I believe it is well past the time to take another look.”

State Reps. Aaron Bernstine (R-Lawrence/Beaver), Nick Pisciottano (D-Allegheny) and James Struzzi (R-Indiana) were among 17 co-sponsors of the resolution.

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.