PA's GOP State Lawmakers Prepare To Challenge School Mask Mandate

Pittsburgh PA

10 September, 2021

2:47 PM

Description

HARRISBURG, PA — In a rare occurrence, state representatives are returning early from their summer recess to battle the Wolf administration's school mask mandate. The GOP-controlled House wasn't due back in voting session until Sept. 27 but that date has been moved to Sept. 20, according to the House Republican Caucus website. Lawmakers are expected to return to Harrisburg Wednesday to prepare for the earlier voting date. Why go back sooner than expected? House Republican spokesman Jason Gottesman told the Pennsylvania Capital-Star that GOP lawmakers received complaints and concerns about the mandate. Gottesman did not discuss any specific legislative strategy that might be taken to end the mandate. Republican Rep. Jesse Topper of Bedford County is among those tackling the issue in court, signing on to a lawsuit filed last week challenging the mask order. The administration's edict was announced Aug. 31 and went into effect Sept. 7 amid rising coronavirus case numbers across the state. The order was contrary to the Republicans adamant contention that the mask question should be answered by local officials. Wolf said Wednesday that despite opposition in many parts of the state, he did not anticipate school districts not complying with the mandate to be a significant issue. Republicans have adamantly insisted that the mask issue should be decided at the local level. However, some schools are allowing students to not wear a mask if they provide a parent's note, the Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed Friday. Under the mandate, a student is not required to wear a mask if they have a specific medical condition qualified by a health professional. But some students and schools are letting students go maskless without them providing any medical documentation of a qualifying condition. Be the first to know what's happening in your community and region. With a free Patch subscription, you'll always be up to date on local and state news: https://patch.com/subscribe.