Delegate Hill proposes caps and clearer standards for superintendent severance packages

Delegate Terry Hill told the Ways and Means Committee that House Bill 13‑17 is intended “to bring transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility to superintendent contracts.” Hill said the bill would cap severance and structure buyouts so school districts cannot be required to pay excessive payouts that divert funds from classrooms.

Hill outlined proposed contract rules: if a superintendent has one year or less remaining on a contract, they would receive the remaining salary; if more than one year remained, severance would be one year’s salary plus one additional month per year of full service; health benefits would be capped at one year or until the superintendent secures another job. The bill would also eliminate buyouts for certain forms of alleged misconduct, which the sponsor described as including immorality, insubordination and financial mismanagement.

During his presentation, Hill cited recent high‑profile separations he said illustrated the problem, noting cases he described where payouts exceeded $1 million and included lifetime health benefits or other additional provisions. He argued those payouts “divert taxpayer money away from our students, teachers, and the classroom.”

The sponsor framed HB 13‑17 as aligning Maryland with practices in other states and as a way to give boards clearer contractual frameworks for negotiation while preserving protections for employees. He urged a favorable report so the General Assembly can consider the proposed structure and caps.

Committee members had no substantive questions during the allotted time and the hearing concluded on the bill with the sponsor available for follow‑up. No vote was recorded at the hearing.