Fed up with the lack of transparency from the PIAA, Centre County State Representative Scott Conklin has introduced legislation to require the agency to fall into line with Pennsylvania’s sunshine laws.
Conklin called the PIAA’s secrecy in the way it handles its actions a “blatant betrayal of the public trust.” He said the PIAA was engaged in “deceitful, shameful, and loathsome practices” that must be stopped.
Among its many provisions, the bill demands that the PIAA be subject to the state’s Sunshine Act, the Public Official and Employees Ethics Act, the Right-To-Know Law, and the Pennsylvania Web Accountability and Transparency Act (known as “PENNWATCH”). It also requires the legislative Athletic Oversight Committee to increase the number of its meetings from one per year to three, and mandates that the PIAA increase transparency of its records, finances, and ethics. Executive and district officials would also be required to submit financial interest statements to the state.
The bill does not address the competitive balance issue. Conklin has proposed another piece of legislation that would create separate playoffs for public and private schools.
