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Robbins Appointed to
New Athletic Oversight Committee
HARRISBURG -- State
Senator Bob Robbins (R-50) announced today that he has been appointed by the
Senate President Pro Tempore, Robert C. Jubelirer, to the new Pennsylvania
Athletic Oversight Committee, which is charged with ensuring that the
Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Agency (PIAA) continues to comply with the
13 specific reforms put in place by Act 91 of 2000.
In 1998, after hearing widespread allegations about
abuses at the PIAA, the Senate Special Committee on Interscholastic Athletics
conducted an in-depth inquiry into the operation of the PIAA. The PIAA was
originally formed by high school principals to “eliminate abuses, establish
uniform rules, and place interscholastic athletics in the overall context of
secondary education.” It is organized as a nonprofit membership corporation
comprised of more than 1,360 Pennsylvania high schools and junior high/middle
schools.
The work of the Special Committee resulted in Act 91
of 2000, which established the Interscholastic Athletics Oversight Council. The
Council was formed to oversee 13 specific reforms at the PIAA, including
opening meetings to the public, prohibiting conflicts of interest, undergoing
annual audits, and providing fairness to student athletes. In February of 2004,
the Oversight Council released its final report stating that the PIAA had
complied with the 13 reforms.
Senator Robbins, who was a member of the original
Senate Special Committee and the Oversight Council, called for the establishment
of a permanent form of oversight of the PIAA to ensure that it continue the
reforms that were put in place. With the support of Senator Robbins, the General
Assembly unanimously passed Act 70 of 2004, which created a six-member
legislative body to monitor the compliance of the PIAA with the reforms in Act
91 of 2000.
Senator Robbins said, “High school athletics has played
an integral role in my life -- from wrestling as a student to becoming a high
school coach to doing radio sportscasting. The truth is, the reforms that have
been put in place will help restore the integrity of this organization. I am
committed to making certain that the PIAA operates a tight fiscal ship in a
manner that is fair to all student athletes.”
Senator Robbins asked that if any constituent has a
concern relating to the operation of the PIAA, they write to him at Room
337, Main Capitol, Harrisburg, PA 17120.
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