Bill would require equal pay for high school sports officials for comparable boys and girls sports

Delegate Dana Jones told the Ways and Means Committee that House Bill 14 83 would require local school systems to reject any bid or proposal that pays different rates for comparable boys’ and girls’ high school sports officiating. The bill would also ask LEAs to issue simultaneous solicitations, allow inclusive bidding across boys and girls sports, and require uniform submission deadlines when separate solicitations are used.

Jones said the issue came to her attention after constituents reported pay disparities — for example, officials for boys’ lacrosse being paid substantially more than officials for girls’ lacrosse for similar games. The measure is designed to close loopholes in procurement that allow unequal pay for comparable assignments.

Supporters, including long-time official Doug Sibler, described the training and expenses officials incur and said unequal pay had driven some from the profession. “It was quite upsetting for both my wife and I and many of our colleagues to learn recently that the officials for the similar boys game were being paid substantially more to work a similar game on the same field,” Sibler said.

Committee members asked how the bill would treat sports that run in different seasons and whether the measure could conflict with existing pay-equity frameworks such as Title IX; Jones and witnesses said most high school boys and girls seasons align and that the bill is narrowly tailored to ensure pay parity for comparable sports. MSDE and stakeholder outreach informed the approach, Jones said. The bill’s Senate cross-file had passed the Senate unanimously.

The committee did not take a recorded vote during the hearing.