HARRISBURG – Building on the strong bipartisan support for legislation allowing school sports to resume, Senators Scott Martin (R-13) and Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R-35) will introduce a bill soon that will ensure other indoor and outdoor recreational sports and activities can continue safely.
Last week, the Senate approved a bill that would give school districts the final decision on whether school sports could resume and whether spectators would be allowed to attend. The bill passed with a veto-proof majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
While House Bill 2787 paves the way for school sports to resume with proper safety protocols in place, the legislation does not apply to recreational leagues and other sports that may not be directly affiliated with a school, such as hockey.
The Senators’ bill would clarify that recreational sports and activities can continue at increased occupancy limits under the health and safety guidelines provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Recreational leagues throughout the state proved over the summer that sporting events can be held safely if we follow the proper steps to avoid COVID-19,” said Martin, who serves as Chair of the Athletic Oversight Committee. “Our bill will build on this progress and ensure that a wide variety of activities can continue to take place in a way that protects the health of participants and spectators.”
“Throughout the pandemic, we have consistently said these decisions can be made safely by local officials,” said Langerholc, who serves as Chair of the Senate Education Committee. “This bill would give the decision-making power back to the people who know our communities best.”
CONTACT: Terry Trego (Senator Martin
Gwenn Dando (Senator Langerholc)