Gov. Tom Wolf is rejecting legislation that would grant local public and private school officials “exclusive authority” to decide whether to hold sports this school year and allow fans and family members to attend the games.

Wolf spokeswoman Lyndsay Kensinger said he plans to veto House Bill 2787.

“The bill is unnecessary given that school districts already have local control on decisions on school sports. Further the virus is not stopping and spreads more easily when people are in close proximity with one another,” she said in an emailed statement shortly after the Senate passed the bill by a 39-11 vote.

“This bill would allow for the potential gathering of thousands in close proximity, a widely-reported, well-known public health risk. We should focus on preventing the spread and creating a safe environment for children students back to learning and, if possible, in the classroom. Minimizing exposure to COVID-19 is paramount,” Kensinger added.

This decision by the governor could produce a showdown with the Legislature. The General Assembly passed the bill with enough bipartisan support to override a veto, which requires a two-thirds majority vote in each chamber. The House passed it last week by a 155-47 vote.

“Instead of passing unnecessary legislation like this, the Republican legislative majority should do things to help people impacted by the pandemic like funding for small businesses, child care funding, and paid sick leave for employees,” Kensinger said. “The governor outlined a comprehensive plan to provide relief for workers and families, support for businesses, and reform for government. The Legislature should stop wasting time and pass the governor’s plan to help Pennsylvanians.”

House GOP spokesman Jason Gottesman responded to the governor’s planned veto through a series of tweets.

He wrote, “In light of how much Gov. Wolf talk about what Pennsylvania can accomplish if Republicans and Democrats work together, he could have given action to his words and signed this overwhelmingly bipartisan bill that ensures local control over whether to restart sports. By vetoing this bill it is clear Gov. Wolf is merely playing lip service to his call for bipartisanship and asking Republicans and Democrats to work together especially when it questions his unilateral authority.”

Gottesman went on to say: “A veto would also provide less certainty and more inconsistency and confusion for Pennsylvania’s students and families who were counting on school sports starting within the next few days.”

Along with providing schools the authority to decide whether to hold sports and extra-curricular activities during 2020-21 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the measure also would allow local officials to set spectator limits provided they ensure social distancing is followed along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rules for youth sports.

Currently, they must adhere to the Wolf Administration’s guidance that released new guidance caps attendance at outdoor activities at 250 and up to 25 for indoor events. Included in those count are the athletes, coaches, officials and other game-day workers, which in some sports leaves no room for any spectators to attend.

Wolf last month recommended schools not hold sports throughout the fall but his Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said the administration has no intention of enforcing that as an order.

However, Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Centre County, said during the Senate debate of the bill, the governor could change his mind and make it an order.

If the bill would become law, the decision to allow sports and extracurricular activities this year remains in local school officials’ hands, along with determining the number of people who could safely be in attendance at them.

* This post was updated to include statements from House GOP spokesman Jason Gottesman.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.