State Sen. Michael Connelly | The Office of State Sen. Michael Connelly
State Sen. Michael Connelly | The Office of State Sen. Michael Connelly
Legislation sponsored by State Sen. Michael Connelly aimed at curbing excessive severance packages at community colleges passed the Senate last week.
House Bill 3593 limits community college employment contracts to four years if they have determinate dates. Also, severance packages would be limited to only one year of pay and benefits.
Any contract extension or benefit increase would have to be heard before a public hearing and voted on by a board of trustees, and not in an executive, closed-door session.
The bill is the result of the College of DuPage board of trustees approving a $763,000 contact buyout for President Robert Breuder.
“The worst part of the excessive severance package is that the former board of trustees [for the College of DuPage] did it behind closed doors in executive session," Connelly said. "To me and thousands of others citizens, that is the most blatant disregard for the taxpayer."
The bill awaits a concurrence vote in the House before heading to the governor’s desk.
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