PRINTER'S NO. 1962
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 354
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY MARTIN, DUSH, CULVER, BOSCOLA, ROTHMAN, J. WARD,
VOGEL AND COSTA, OCTOBER 18, 2024
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, OCTOBER 18, 2024
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating October 6 through 12, 2024, January 12 through 18,
2 2025, and April 6 through 12, 2025, as "PIAA Officials
3 Appreciation Weeks" in Pennsylvania.
4 WHEREAS, The observance of "PIAA Officials Appreciation
5 Weeks" serves to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of
6 the more than 13,000 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic
7 Association (PIAA) registered officials for interscholastic
8 athletics; and
9 WHEREAS, The PIAA Board of Directors announced that October 6
10 through 12, 2024, will mark the first of three "PIAA Officials
11 Appreciation Weeks" taking place this year; and
12 WHEREAS, The appreciation week for winter sports officials
13 will take place January 12 through 18, 2025, and for spring
14 sports officials will take place April 6 through 12, 2025; and
15 WHEREAS, The PIAA will promote the appreciation weeks and
16 requests its member schools to do the same because having a game
17 would not be possible without officials; and
18 WHEREAS, PIAA officials make a difference in the lives of
 1 student-athletes everywhere, encouraging exercise through
2 competition, promoting sportsmanship and establishing lifelong
3 fundamentals of fairness; and
4 WHEREAS, PIAA officials work tirelessly to create a safe and
5 fair athletic environment for student-athletes and coaches; and
6 WHEREAS, PIAA officials have a difficult job due to pressure
7 to make correct calls while maintaining order between opposing
8 fan bases and in the game itself; and
9 WHEREAS, On October 25, 2023, the Senate renewed its
10 commitment to the safety of our sports officials by passing
11 Senate Bill No. 842, creating a separate offense of harassment
12 of an official of a sporting event to expand upon protections
13 already in place; and
14 WHEREAS, It is both reasonable and appropriate to designate
15 "PIAA Officials Appreciation Weeks" in this Commonwealth and
16 encourage schools, coaches, student-athletes and fans to
17 participate and thank officials who put their time and
18 dedication into sports and the PIAA community; therefore be it
19 RESOLVED, That the Senate designate October 6 through 12,
20 2024, January 12 through 18, 2025, and April 6 through 12, 2025,
21 as "PIAA Officials Appreciation Weeks" in Pennsylvania.
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