New Maryland laws effective Oct 1, 2011, available at http://mlis.state.md.us/2011RS/misc/effectivedates/2011_October.pdf
SB 132
Chapter 28
Senator Pugh, et al
JOB APPLICANT FAIRNESS ACT
Prohibiting employers from using an applicant's or employee's credit
report or credit history in determining whether to deny employment to
the applicant, discharge the employee, or determine compensation or the
terms, conditions, or privileges of employment; authorizing an employer
to request or use an applicant's or employee's credit report or credit
history under specified circumstances; authorizing an applicant or
employee to file a written complaint with the Commissioner of Labor
and Industry for a violation of the Act; etc.
HB 87
Chapter 29
Delegate Reznik, et al
JOB APPLICANT FAIRNESS ACT
Prohibiting employers from using an applicant's or employee's credit
report or credit history in determining whether to deny employment to
the applicant, discharge the employee, or determine compensation or the
terms, conditions, or privileges of employment; authorizing an employer
to request or use an applicant's or employee's credit report or credit
history under specified circumstances; authorizing an applicant or
employee to file a written complaint with the Commissioner of Labor
and Industry for a violation of the Act; etc.
HB 298
Chapter 118
Delegates Pena-Melnyk and Braveboy
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT - WAGE PAYMENT AND
COLLECTION - VOID AGREEMENTS
Establishing that an agreement between an employer and employee for
the employee to work for less than the wage required under law to be
paid to the employee is void.
HB 197
Chapter 108
Chair, Economic Matters Committee (By Request - Departmental -
Labor, Licensing and Regulation)
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS CLAIMS - APPEALS -
FINALITY OF ORDER
Establishing that decisions relating to unemployment insurance benefits
claims that are appealed to the Lower Appeals Division or the Board of
Appeals in the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation are final
after 10 days after specified notice has been delivered to the individual or
employer who appealed the determination of the unemployment
insurance benefits claim.
HB 1228
Chapter 170
The Speaker (By Request - Administration)
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE - FEDERAL EXTENDED
BENEFITS FOR THE LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED
Specifying that, for specified weeks of unemployment, a State "on"
indicator for extended unemployment benefits exists under specified
circumstances; specifying that a State "off" indicator exists for specified
extended unemployment benefits under specified circumstances;
prohibiting specified extended benefits from being payable for any week
of unemployment beginning before a specified date; establishing the
Extended Benefits Fund; stating the purpose of the Fund and the intent of
the General Assembly; etc.
SB 568
Chapter 256
Senators Pugh and Kittleman
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT - WORKERS' COMPENSATION -
VENUE FOR APPEAL
Altering the venue available to individuals and employers appealing a
decision of the Workers' Compensation Commission; etc.
HB 392
Chapter 257
Delegate Feldman, et al
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT - WORKERS' COMPENSATION -
VENUE FOR APPEAL
Altering the venue available to individuals and employers appealing a
decision of the Workers' Compensation Commission; etc.
HB 12
Chapter 314
Delegate Beitzel, et al
PROCUREMENT - EMPLOYEE UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT -
PLACE OF MANUFACTURE
Prohibiting a public employer, under specified circumstances, from
knowingly buying, furnishing, or requiring an employee to buy or
acquire for use while on duty specified uniforms and other equipment
unless the uniforms or equipment are manufactured in the United States;
requiring the Board of Public Works to adopt specified regulations; and
applying the Act prospectively.
HB 202
Chapter 322
Delegate Kaiser, et al
EDUCATION - DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED - PROTECTED
CLASSES
Altering a provision of law relating to discrimination in the employment
of public school employees in the State to conform to other provisions of
State law governing discrimination in employment.
HB 233
Chapter 324
Delegate Barve, et al
COUNTIES AND MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS - DIRECT
DEPOSIT OF WAGES
Authorizing counties and municipal corporations to pay wages of
employees by direct deposit and to require an employee to receive
payment of wages by direct deposit as a condition of employment;
prohibiting a county or municipal corporation from requiring the
payment of wages by direct deposit for an employee who was hired
before October 1, 2011, whose employment is not conditioned on the
employee receiving payment of wages by direct deposit, or who does not
have a personal bank account and opts out of direct deposit; etc.
HB 267
Chapter 327
Delegate Anderson (By Request - Baltimore City Administration), et
al
PUBLIC ETHICS LAWS - BALTIMORE CITY - HEALTH
DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND CIVILIAN REVIEW
BOARD
Altering the provisions of the Maryland Public Ethics Law to provide
that employees of the Baltimore City Health Department, the Police
Commissioner of Baltimore City, the civilian employees and police
officers of the Police Department of Baltimore City, and the members
and employees of the Civilian Review Board are subject only to the
Baltimore City Public Ethics Law.
HB 757
Chapter 359
Delegate Mitchell, et al
GOVERNOR'S WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD -
DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO AID
UNEMPLOYED STATE RESIDENTS
Requiring the Governor's Workforce Investment Board to establish an
advisory committee; specifying the duties and staffing of the advisory
committee; requiring that the advisory committee include representatives
from specified organizations; requiring the Board, on or before June 1 of
each year, to report findings and recommendations to the Governor and
specified committees of the General Assembly; etc.
SB 212
Chapter 435
Senator Klausmeier, et al
WORKERS' COMPENSATION - DEATH BENEFITS -
DEPENDENCY
Providing that specified death benefit provisions of the workers'
compensation law apply only to specified covered employees of a
municipal corporation or a county, and their dependents; altering the
authority of the Workers' Compensation Commission to make
determinations of dependency; altering the provisions relating to
calculation of death benefits for individuals who are wholly or partly
dependent; providing for the amount of death benefits to specified
dependents; etc.
HB 417
Chapter 436
Delegate Jameson, et al
WORKERS' COMPENSATION - DEATH BENEFITS -
DEPENDENCY
Providing that specified death benefit provisions of the workers'
compensation law apply only to specified covered employees of a
municipal corporation or a county, and their dependents; altering the
authority of the Workers' Compensation Commission to make specified
determinations of dependency; altering the provisions relating to
calculation of death benefits for individuals who are wholly or partly
dependent; providing for the amount of death benefits to specified
dependents; etc.
SB 551
Chapter 494
Senator Kelley, et al
MARYLAND WAGE AND HOUR LAW - PROHIBITED ACTS OF
EMPLOYERS - ADVERSE ACTION
Prohibiting an employer from taking adverse action against an employee
who makes a complaint, brings an action, or testifies in an action under
the Maryland Wage and Hour Law; specifying that the adverse action
prohibited includes discharge, demotion, threat of discharge or demotion,
and other specified retaliatory actions; prohibiting the conviction of an
employer without specified evidence; etc.
HB 1130
Chapter 495
Delegate Hucker, et al
MARYLAND WAGE AND HOUR LAW - PROHIBITED ACTS OF
EMPLOYERS - ADVERSE ACTION
Prohibiting an employer from taking adverse action against an employee
who makes a complaint, brings an action, or testifies in an action under
the Maryland Wage and Hour Law; specifying that the adverse action
prohibited includes discharge, demotion, threat of discharge or demotion,
and other specified retaliatory actions; prohibiting the conviction of an
employer without specified evidence; etc.
SB 687
Chapter 517
Senator Peters
MILITIA - EMPLOYMENT FOR MILITARY SPOUSES -
TEACHERS, HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS, AND
INDIVIDUALS IN BUSINESS OCCUPATIONS AND PROFESSIONS
Requiring the State Department of Education to develop a specified form
relating to teacher certification and tenure and to post the form on its
Web site; requiring the Adjutant General or the Adjutant General's
designee to assist military spouses in finding specified employment; etc.
HB 998
Chapter 518
Delegate Valentino-Smith, et al
MILITIA - EMPLOYMENT FOR MILITARY SPOUSES -
TEACHERS, HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS, AND
INDIVIDUALS IN BUSINESS OCCUPATIONS AND PROFESSIONS
Requiring the State Department of Education to develop a specified form
relating to teacher certification and tenure and to post the form on its
Web site; requiring the Adjutant General or the Adjutant General's
designee to assist military spouses in finding specified employment; etc.
HB 1184
Chapter 617
Delegate Zucker, et al
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION - EMPLOYEE
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES - STREAMLINED PROCESS
Altering a provision of law concerning regulations adopted by the
Secretary of Transportation for grievance procedures for employees
under the Department of Transportation; authorizing an aggrieved
employee to appeal decisions to the Office of Administrative Hearings or
to another party, as specified; repealing provisions regarding the
administration of specified disciplinary appeals by the Secretary of
Budget and Management; requiring the Secretary of Transportation to
establish appeal procedures through regulations and policy; etc.
SB 60
Chapter 14
Chair, Finance Committee (By Request - Departmental - Labor,
Licensing and Regulation)
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE - ADMINISTRATION OF
CLAIMS - CHANGES TO WITHHOLDING STATUS
Repealing the limitation on the number of times per benefit year a
claimant for unemployment insurance benefits may change a previously
elected withholding status.
HB 211
Chapter 580
Chair, Health and Government Operations Committee (By Request
- Departmental - Human Relations Commission)
MARYLAND COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS - NAME
CHANGE
Changing the name of the Maryland Commission on Human Relations to
the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights; and providing that specified
printed material reflecting the renaming of the Commission may not be
used until material already in print is used.
Guest Blogger
MELA invites its members to submit a short commentary on employment issues of interest to the legal community and clients.