On July 4, 2005, the Pennsylvania General Assembly created the Pennsylvania Athletic Oversight Committee (PAOC) as a result of the recommendations made by the previous Oversight Council which was disbanded in February 2004. The Pennsylvania Athletic Oversight Committee is required to meet at least once a year for the purposes of reviewing the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association’s continued compliance with Act 91 of 2000, responding to issues related to the activities of the Association and to issue an annual report of its findings to the presiding officers in both the Senate and House of Representatives.

The previous Oversight Councils came into existence as a result of Governor Tom Ridge signing Act 91 of 2000 which gave the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletics Oversight Council the responsibility to “review the progress of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc. (PIAA) to comply with thirteen legislatively mandated reforms” (PAOC Annual Report, p. i). In 2002, Act 187 of 2002 extended the life of the Council for one year and required that the Council evaluate the expansion of PIAA sanctioned athletic competitions or sports, including the addition of other athletic associations into PIAA championship. In addition, the Council was to continue with its original responsibilities as mandated by Act 91 of 2000. For completed reforms resulting from the Council’s work, see the 2008 Annual Report housed in Folder 7 of this collection.

During the 2007-2008 Session, the members of the Pennsylvania Athletic Oversight Committee focused on the proposed Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) rule changes and the open records law and how it would affect PIAA. Their final actions are included in the Annual Report (again, housed in Folder 7 of this collection.