EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0574*
SENATE BILL 574
F3 5lr0794
SB 1131/24 – SRU
By: Howard County Senators
Introduced and read first time: January 23, 2025
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 24, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Howard County Board of Education – Board Member Terms and Compensation 2
Commission 3
Ho. Co. 2–25 4
FOR the purpose of altering the terms of the members of the Howard County Board of 5
Education; establishing the Howard County Board of Education Compensation 6
Commission; and generally relating to the terms of members of the Howard County 7
Board of Education and to the Howard County Board of Education Compensation 8
Commission. 9
BY renumbering 10
Article – Local Government 11
Section 28–1A–01 through 28–1A–07 and the subtitle “Subtitle 1A. Montgomery 12
County Board of Education Compensation Commission” 13
to be Section 28–1B–01 through 28–1B–07, respectively, and the subtitle “Subtitle 14
1B. Montgomery County Board of Education Compensation Commission” 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2013 Volume and 2024 Supplement) 17
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 18
Article – Education 19
Section 3–701(a), (c), and (d)(1) 20
Annotated Code of Maryland 21
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 22 2 SENATE BILL 574
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 1
Article – Education 2
Section 3–701(d)(2) and 3–703 3
Annotated Code of Maryland 4
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 5
BY adding to 6
Article – Local Government 7
Section 28–1A–01 through 28–1A–08 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 1A. 8
Howard County Board of Education Compensation Commission” 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2013 Volume and 2024 Supplement) 11
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That Section(s) 28–1A–01 through 28–1A–07 and the subtitle “Subtitle 1A. Montgomery 13
County Board of Education Compensation Commission” of Article – Local Government of 14
the Annotated Code of Maryland be renumbered to be Section(s) 28–1B–01 through 15
28–1B–07, respectively, and the subtitle “Subtitle 1B. Montgomery County Board of 16
Education Compensation Commission”. 17
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of M aryland read 18
as follows: 19
Article – Education 20
3–701. 21
(a) (1) The Howard County Board consists of: 22
(i) Seven elected members; and 23
(ii) One student member. 24
(2) The seven elected members shall be elected as follows: 25
(i) One member from each of the five councilmanic districts in the 26
county, elected by the voters of that district; and 27
(ii) Two members at large, elected by the voters of the county. 28
(c) The seven elected members of the Howard County Board shall be elected: 29
(1) Beginning in 2020, at the general election every 2 years as required by 30
subsection (d) of this section; and 31
(2) As specified in subsection (a) of this section. 32 SENATE BILL 574 3
(d) (1) (i) The terms of the elected members are staggered as provided in 1
this subsection. 2
(ii) Each term of office begins on the first Monday in December after 3
the election of a member and until a successor is elected and qualifies. 4
(2) (i) 1. The [term] TERMS of office of [each member elected from 5
a councilmanic district, beginning at the 2020 election, is 4 years] THE MEMBERS 6
ELECTED FROM A COUNCILMANIC DISTRICT AT THE 2028 ELECTION ARE: 7
A. FOR THE TWO ELECTED M EMBERS WHO RECEIVE T HE 8
HIGHEST PERCENTAGE O F VOTES, 6 YEARS; AND 9
B. FOR THE THREE ELECTED MEMBERS WHO RECEIVE 10
THE LOWEST PERCENTAGE OF VOTES , 4 YEARS. 11
2. The [term] TERMS of office of [each member] THE TWO 12
MEMBERS elected at large[, beginning] at the [2022] 2026 election[, is 4 years] ARE: 13
A. FOR THE INDIVIDUAL WH O RECEIVES THE HIGHE ST 14
NUMBER OF VOTES , 6 YEARS; AND 15
B. FOR THE INDIVIDUAL WH O RECEIVES THE SECON D 16
HIGHEST NUMBER OF VO TES, 4 YEARS. 17
(ii) The successors to [the]: 18
1. THE offices OF THE THREE MEMBERS elected at the 19
[2020 and 2022 elections, respectively, shall serve for a term of 4 years] 2028 ELECTION 20
WHO RECEIVED THE LOW EST PERCENTAGE OF VO TES SHALL BE ELECTED AT THE 21
2032 ELECTION AND EVERY 4 YEARS THEREAFTER AND SHALL SERVE FOR A TE RM 22
OF 4 YEARS; 23
2. THE OFFICES OF THE TW O MEMBERS ELECTED AT 24
THE 2028 ELECTION WHO RECEIVE D THE HIGHEST PER CENTAGE OF VOTES SHA LL 25
BE ELECTED AT THE 2034 ELECTION AND EVERY 4 YEARS THEREAFTER AND SHALL 26
SERVE FOR A TERM OF 4 YEARS; 27
3. THE OFFICE OF THE MEM BER ELECTED AT LARGE AT 28
THE 2026 ELECTION WHO RECEIVE D THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF VOTES IN THAT 29
ELECTION SHAL L BE ELECTED AT THE 2032 ELECTION AND EVERY 4 YEARS 30
THEREAFTER AND SHALL SERVE A TERM OF 4 YEARS; AND 31
4 SENATE BILL 574
4. THE OFFICE OF THE MEM BER ELECTED AT LARGE AT 1
THE 2026 ELECTION WHO RECEIVE D THE SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER OF VOTES IN 2
THAT ELECTION SHALL BE ELECTED A T THE 2030 ELECTION AND EVERY 4 YEARS 3
THEREAFTER AND SHALL SERVE A TERM OF 4 YEARS. 4
(III) IN THE EVENT OF A TIE BETWEEN ELECTED MEMB ERS 5
UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH , THE LOCAL BOARD OF E LECTIONS 6
SHALL ADMINISTER A R ANDOM DRAWING TO DET ERMINE THE TERM OF OFFICE FOR 7
EACH ELECTED MEMBER INVOLVED IN THE TIE . 8
3–703. 9
(a) (1) The chair of the county board is entitled to receive: 10
(I) $18,000 annually as compensation [and the]; OR 11
(II) AN ANNUAL SALARY SET THROUGH LEGISLATION BASED ON 12
THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF T HE HOWARD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION 13
COMPENSATION COMMISSION IN ACCORDA NCE WITH TITLE 28, SUBTITLE 1A OF 14
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 15
(2) THE other elected members are entitled to receive: 16
(I) $16,000 each annually as compensation; OR 17
(II) AN ANNUAL SALARY SET THROUGH LEGISLATION BASED ON 18
THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE HOWARD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION 19
COMPENSATION COMMISSION IN ACCORDA NCE WITH TITLE 28, SUBTITLE 1A OF 20
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 21
(b) After submitting vouchers under the rules and regulations adopted by the 22
county board, the chair and the other elected members are entitled to receive 23
reimbursement for travel and other expenses as provided in the Howard County budget. 24
(c) The employer’s share for State retirement and pension contributions made on 25
behalf of the chair and other elected board members may not be considered compensation 26
for the purpose of calculating compensation under subsection (a) of this section. 27
(d) (1) The chair and other elected board members may participate in health 28
insurance and other benefit programs sponsored by the board. 29
(2) An elected board member’s participation in a benefit program 30
sponsored by the board under this subsection may not be considered compensation for the 31
purpose of calculating compensation under subsection (a) of this section. 32
SENATE BILL 574 5
(e) (1) (i) A student member who completes a full term on the board shall 1
be entitled to a scholarship of: 2
1. $5,000 to be applied to the student’s higher education 3
costs; OR 4
2. A SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT S ET THROUGH 5
LEGISLATION BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE HOWARD COUNTY BOARD 6
OF EDUCATION COMPENSATION COMMISSION IN ACCORDA NCE WITH TITLE 28, 7
SUBTITLE 1A OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 8
(ii) The scholarship shall be paid directly to the educational 9
institution that the student attends. 10
(iii) A student may receive only one scholarship regardless of the 11
number of terms the student serves as the student member of the county board. 12
(iv) The scholarship may not be considered compensation for the 13
purpose of calculating taxable income. 14
(2) On the submission of expense vouchers, the student member is entitled 15
to reimbursement for travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of official 16
duties for the county board. 17
(3) The student member is not entitled to any compensation or payment 18
other than that specified under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection for their work as 19
the student member of the county board. 20
Article – Local Government 21
SUBTITLE 1A. HOWARD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION COMPENSATION 22
COMMISSION. 23
28–1A–01. 24
IN THIS SUBTITLE, “COMMISSION” MEANS THE HOWARD COUNTY BOARD OF 25
EDUCATION COMPENSATION COMMISSION. 26
28–1A–02. 27
THERE IS A HOWARD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION COMPENSATION 28
COMMISSION. 29
28–1A–03. 30
6 SENATE BILL 574
(A) (1) THE COMMISSION CONSISTS O F FIVE RESIDENTS OF HOWARD 1
COUNTY APPOINTED BY T HE HOWARD COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND CONFIRM ED BY 2
THE HOWARD COUNTY COUNCIL. 3
(2) MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION SHALL BE A PPOINTED ON OR 4
BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2026, AND EVERY 4 YEARS THEREAFTER . 5
(B) A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION MAY NOT : 6
(1) BE EMPLOYED BY THE HOWARD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION; 7
OR 8
(2) HAVE A RELATIVE WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE HOWARD COUNTY 9
BOARD OF EDUCATION. 10
(C) A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION MAY BE REM OVED BY THE HOWARD 11
COUNTY COUNCIL FOR THE SAME CAUSES AND SUBJECT T O THE SAME PROCEDURE S 12
AS SET FORTH IN § 3–701(H) OF THE EDUCATION ARTICLE. 13
28–1A–04. 14
(A) THE COMMISSION SHALL ELEC T A CHAIR FROM AMONG ITS MEMBERS. 15
(B) THE COMMISSION SHALL DETE RMINE THE TIME AND PLACES OF ITS 16
MEETINGS. 17
(C) (1) A MAJORITY OF THE MEMB ERS OF THE COMMISSION IS A 18
QUORUM. 19
(2) ACTION BY THE COMMISSION REQUIRES T HE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE 20
OF A MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION MEMBERS PR ESENT. 21
(D) THE HOWARD COUNTY GOVERNMENT SHA LL PROVIDE STAF F FOR THE 22
COMMISSION. 23
28–1A–05. 24
(A) THE COMMISSION SHALL STUD Y THE SALARIES OF TH E MEMBERS OF 25
THE HOWARD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION. 26
(B) THE COMMISSION SHALL ISSU E A REPORT TO THE HOWARD COUNTY 27
COUNCIL ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 2026, AND EVERY 4 YEARS THEREAFTER , 28 SENATE BILL 574 7
REGARDING ITS RECOMM ENDATIONS FOR THE AP PROPRIATE COMPENSATI ON FOR 1
MEMBERS OF THE HOWARD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, INCLUDING: 2
(1) ANY ADDITIONAL STIPE ND FOR THE CHAIR OF THE COUNTY 3
BOARD; AND 4
(2) A SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT TO BE AWARDED TO A S TUDENT 5
MEMBER OF THE COUNTY BOARD WHO COMPLETES A FULL TERM ON THE C OUNTY 6
BOARD TO BE APPLIED TOWARD THE STUDENT ’S HIGHER EDUCATION C OSTS. 7
28–1A–06. 8
IN FORMULATING ITS RE PORT AND RECOMMENDAT IONS, THE COMMISSION 9
SHALL CONSIDER FOR E ACH MEMBER OF THE HOWARD COUNTY BOARD OF 10
EDUCATION: 11
(1) THE SCOPE OF RESPONS IBILITIES OF A COUNT Y BOARD MEMBER ; 12
(2) THE EDUCATION , SKILLS, AND ABILITIES NECESS ARY TO 13
PERFORM THE DUTIES O F A COUNTY BOARD MEM BER; 14
(3) THE SALARIES OF SIMI LAR COUNTY BOARD MEM BERS IN OTHER 15
JURISDICTIONS; 16
(4) THE TIME REQUIRED TO PERFORM THE DUTIES O F A COUNTY 17
BOARD MEMBER ; 18
(5) THE SALARIES OF SUBO RDINATE EMPLOYEES UN DER THE DIRECT 19
SUPERVISION OF THE C OUNTY BOARD ; 20
(6) THE VOLUME AND WORKL OAD OF THE COUNTY BO ARD; AND 21
(7) ANY OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION . 22
28–1A–07. 23
(A) IN EACH APPLICABLE YE AR, AFTER REVIEWING THE COMMISSION’S 24
REPORT AND RECOMMEND ATIONS, THE HOWARD COUNTY COUNCIL MAY , BY 25
RESOLUTION, RECOMMEND THAT THE M EMBERS OF THE HOWARD COUNTY 26
DELEGATION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ALTER THE SALARY OF ME MBERS OF THE 27
HOWARD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION BY AN AMOUN T NOT MORE THAN THE 28
RECOMMENDATIONS OF T HE COMMISSION. 29
8 SENATE BILL 574
(B) IF THE HOWARD COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVES A RE SOLUTION UNDER 1
SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION, THE COUNCIL SHALL SU BMIT THE RESOLUTION 2
AND THE COMMISSION’S REPORT TO THE MEMB ERS OF THE HOWARD COUNTY 3
DELEGATION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 4
28–1A–08. 5
ON RECEIPT OF A RESOL UTION FROM THE HOWARD COUNTY COUNCIL AND 6
THE COMMISSION’S REPORT SUBMITTED U NDER § 28–1A–07(B) OF THIS SUBTITLE , 7
THE MEMBERS OF THE HOWARD COUNTY DELEGATION TO THE GENERAL 8
ASSEMBLY MAY INTRODUC E LEGISLATION TO ALT ER THE SALARY OF MEM BERS OF 9
THE HOWARD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION. 10
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 11
(1) The terms of the members of the Howard County Board of Education 12
elected from councilmanic districts in office on the effective date of this Act shall expire on 13
December 4, 2028; and 14
(2) The terms of the members of the Howard County Board of Education 15
elected by the voters of the county at large in office on the effective date of this Act shall 16
expire on December 7, 2026. 17
SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 18
1, 2025. 19
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.