Pennsylvania House passes Conklin bill to protect student athletes from unfair, risk-laden competitions
Would allow PIAA to create separate playoffs and championships for public and private schools
Rep. Scott Conklin April 29, 2026 | 3:36 PM
HARRISBURG, April 29 – The Pennsylvania House today passed legislation introduced by state Rep. Scott Conklin that would better protect public school athletes by allowing the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association to create separate playoffs and championships for boundary and non-boundary schools.
Conklin, D-Centre, said he introduced H.B. 41 because the existing competition structure administered by PIAA is unfair and jeopardizes athletes’ health and safety.
“Student athletes and their parents recognize that contact sports pose certain physical risks, which schools try to minimize through protective equipment, training, and policies like concussion protocols,” Conklin said. “Unfortunately, our schools can’t protect against a playoff system that needlessly escalates those risks through unfair competitions.
“PIAA’s existing playoff system forces athletes from public schools, which are limited to recruiting from within district boundaries, to compete against athletes from private schools, which can recruit from anywhere and amass larger, stronger teams. The result is unfair, lopsided competitions that leave public school students on a dangerously unlevel playing field, subjecting them to added physical risks and even depriving them of scholarship and recruitment opportunities. School sports are supposed to be about building confidence and teaching kids lessons in fair play, but the current system is teaching all the wrong lessons.
“My bill would provide a way to end these increasingly dangerous competitions by allowing the PIAA to establish separate playoffs and championships for boundary and non-boundary schools.”
Conklin said his bill would allow – though not mandate – the PIAA to make the change by removing a decades-old requirement that has prohibited officials from updating the playoff system.
The bill now heads to the state Senate for consideration.