Maryland 2022 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB431 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	hb0431
6	6
7	7	HOUSE BILL 431
8	8	K3 2lr2984
9	9	HB 1615/17 – HRU CF 2lr0721
10	10	By: Delegate Foley
11	11	Introduced and read first time: January 20, 2022
12	12	Assigned to: Economic Matters
13	13
14	14	A BILL ENTITLED
15	15
16	16	AN ACT concerning 1
17	17
18	18	Maryland Fair Scheduling Act 2
19	19
20	20	FOR the purpose of requiring an employer who employs individuals in a food service facility 3
21	21	or retail establishment to pay certain employees at a certain rate of pay for certain 4
22	22	shifts of work, except under certain circumstances; providing that certain employees 5
23	23	employed in a food service facility or retail establishment have the right to decline 6
24	24	to work hours that occur during a certain period; and generally relating to fair 7
25	25	scheduling. 8
26	26
27	27	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
28	28	Article – Labor and Employment 10
29	29	Section 2–106(b) and 3–102(a) 11
30	30	Annotated Code of Maryland 12
31	31	(2016 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 13
32	32
33	33	BY adding to 14
34	34	Article – Labor and Employment 15
35	35	Section 3–103(n); and 3–1801 through 3–1811 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 16
36	36	18. Fair Scheduling” 17
37	37	Annotated Code of Maryland 18
38	38	(2016 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 19
39	39
40	40	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 20
41	41	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 21
42	42
43	43	Article – Labor and Employment 22
44	44
45	45	2–106. 23
46	46
47	47	(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, and in addition to authority 24
48	48	to adopt regulations that is set forth elsewhere, the Commissioner may adopt regulations 25 2 HOUSE BILL 431
49	49
50	50
51	51	that are necessary to carry out: 1
52	52
53	53	(1) Title 3, Subtitle 3 of this article; 2
54	54
55	55	(2) Title 3, Subtitle 5 of this article; 3
56	56
57	57	(3) Title 3, Subtitle 13 of this article; 4
58	58
59	59	(4) TITLE 3, SUBTITLE 18 OF THIS ARTICLE; 5
60	60
61	61	[(4)] (5) Title 4, Subtitle 2, Parts I through III of this article; 6
62	62
63	63	[(5)] (6) Title 5 of this article; 7
64	64
65	65	[(6)] (7) Title 6 of this article; and 8
66	66
67	67	[(7)] (8) Title 7 of this article. 9
68	68
69	69	3–102. 10
70	70
71	71	(a) In addition to any duties set forth elsewhere, the Commissioner shall: 11
72	72
73	73	(1) enforce Subtitle 2 of this title; 12
74	74
75	75	(2) carry out Subtitle 3 of this title; 13
76	76
77	77	(3) enforce Subtitle 4 of this title; 14
78	78
79	79	(4) enforce Subtitle 9 of this title; 15
80	80
81	81	(5) enforce Subtitle 16 of this title; [and] 16
82	82
83	83	(6) ENFORCE SUBTITLE 18 OF THIS TITLE; AND 17
84	84
85	85	[(6)] (7) enforce a local minimum wage law. 18
86	86
87	87	3–103. 19
88	88
89	89	(N) THE COMMISSIONER MAY COND UCT AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE 20
90	90	WHETHER A PROVISION OF SUBTITLE 18 OF THIS TITLE HAS BE EN VIOLATED, ON 21
91	91	THE COMMISSIONER ’S OWN INITIATIVE OR ON RECEIPT OF A WRIT TEN COMPLAINT 22
92	92	OF AN EMPLOYEE . 23
93	93
94	94	SUBTITLE 18. FAIR SCHEDULING. 24
95	95
96	96	3–1801. 25 HOUSE BILL 431 3
97	97
98	98
99	99
100	100	(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 1
101	101	INDICATED. 2
102	102
103	103	(B) “EMPLOYEE” DOES NOT INCLUDE : 3
104	104
105	105	(1) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS EXEMPT FROM THE MINI MUM WAGE AND 4
106	106	OVERTIME PROVISIONS OF THE FEDERAL FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT; OR 5
107	107
108	108	(2) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO PERFO RMS WORK FOR AN EMPL OYER FOR 6
109	109	REMUNERATION IF : 7
110	110
111	111	(I) THE INDIVIDUAL IS FR EE FROM THE EMPLOYER ’S CONTROL 8
112	112	AND DIRECTION REGARD ING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE WORK; 9
113	113
114	114	(II) THE INDIVIDUAL CUSTO MARILY IS ENGAGED IN AN 10
115	115	INDEPENDENT BUSINESS OR OCCUPATION OF THE SAM E NATURE AS THAT INV OLVED 11
116	116	IN THE WORK; AND 12
117	117
118	118	(III) THE WORK IS: 13
119	119
120	120	1. OUTSIDE THE USUAL CO URSE OF BUSINESS OF THE 14
121	121	EMPLOYER; OR 15
122	122
123	123	2. PERFORMED OUTSIDE AN Y PLACE OF BUSINESS OF 16
124	124	THE EMPLOYER . 17
125	125
126	126	(C) “EMPLOYER” MEANS A PERSON THAT EMPLOYS INDIVIDUALS IN A FOOD 18
127	127	SERVICE FACILITY OR RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT . 19
128	128
129	129	(D) “FOOD SERVICE FACILITY ” MEANS AN ENTITY THAT IS A 20
130	130	FULL–SERVICE OR LIMITED –SERVICE RESTAURANT , AS DEFINED UNDER THE 21
131	131	NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM, NAICS 7221 AND NAICS 22
132	132	7222, IF THE RESTAURANT IS : 23
133	133
134	134	(1) PART OF A CHAIN OF A T LEAST 10 RESTAURANTS NATIONWI DE; OR 24
135	135
136	136	(2) A FRANCHISE OF AT LE AST 10 ESTABLISHMENTS NATIO NWIDE, 25
137	137	INCLUDING: 26
138	138
139	139	(I) AN INTEGRATED ENTERP RISE THAT OWNS OR OP ERATES AT 27
140	140	LEAST 10 ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE AGGREGATE NATION ALLY; OR 28
141	141	4 HOUSE BILL 431
142	142
143	143
144	144	(II) AN ESTABLISHMENT OPE RATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH A 1
145	145	FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WHERE THE FRANCHISOR AND THE FRANCHISEE O WN OR 2
146	146	OPERATE AT LEAST 10 ESTABLISHMENTS IN TH E AGGREGATE NATIONAL LY. 3
147	147
148	148	(E) “ON–CALL SHIFT” MEANS TIME THAT AN EMPLOYER REQUIRES AN 4
149	149	EMPLOYEE TO BE AVAIL ABLE TO WORK AND TO CONTACT THE EMPLOYER OR THE 5
150	150	EMPLOYER’S DESIGNEE, OR TO WAIT TO BE CON TACTED BY THE EMPLOY ER OR THE 6
151	151	EMPLOYER’S DESIGNEE, WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE START O F A POTENTIAL SHIFT TO 7
152	152	DETERMINE WHETHER TH E EMPLOYEE MUST REPORT TO WORK. 8
153	153
154	154	(F) “RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT ” MEANS A BUSINESS WHE RE GOODS ARE 9
155	155	SOLD ON THE PREMISES AT RETAIL AND THAT I S A PART OF A CHAIN OF AT LEAST 10 10
156	156	RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT S NATIONWIDE. 11
157	157
158	158	(G) “SHIFT” MEANS THE CONSECUTIV E HOURS AN EMPLOYER REQUIRES AN 12
159	159	EMPLOYEE TO WORK OR TO BE ON CALL TO WOR K. 13
160	160
161	161	3–1802. 14
162	162
163	163	THIS SUBTITLE MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO : 15
164	164
165	165	(1) DISCOURAGE OR PROHIB IT AN EMPLOYER FROM THE ADOPTION 16
166	166	OR RETENTION OF POLI CIES THAT ARE MORE B ENEFICIAL TO EMPLOYE ES THAN THE 17
167	167	REQUIREMENTS OF TH IS SUBTITLE; 18
168	168
169	169	(2) DIMINISH THE OBLIGAT ION OF AN EMPLOYER T O COMPLY WITH A 19
170	170	CONTRACT, A COLLECTIVE BARGAIN ING AGREEMENT , AN EMPLOYMENT BENEFI T 20
171	171	PLAN, OR ANY OTHER AGREEME NT THAT ESTABLISHES POLICIES THAT ARE MO RE 21
172	172	BENEFICIAL TO AN EMP LOYEE THAN THE REQUI REMENTS OF THIS SUBTITLE ; OR 22
173	173
174	174	(3) PREEMPT, LIMIT, OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE APPLICABILITY OF 23
175	175	ANY OTHER LAW , POLICY, OR STANDARD ESTABLIS HING SCHEDULING POLI CIES 24
176	176	THAT PROVIDE ADDITIO NAL RIGHTS OR EXTEND OTHER PROTECTIONS TO 25
177	177	EMPLOYEES BEYOND THO SE PROVIDED UNDER THIS SUBTITLE. 26
178	178
179	179	3–1803. 27
180	180
181	181	(A) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTIONS (C) AND (E) OF THIS 28
182	182	SECTION AND PARAGRAP H (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , AN EMPLOYER SHALL PA Y AN 29
183	183	EMPLOYEE FOR AT LEAS T 4 HOURS AT THE EMPLOYE E’S REGULAR RATE OF PA Y FOR 30
184	184	EACH SHIFT OR ON –CALL SHIFT FOR WHICH THE EM PLOYEE REPORTS TO WO RK, AS 31
185	185	REQUIRED BY THE EMPL OYER, BUT IS REQUIRED TO W ORK LESS THAN 4 HOURS. 32
186	186	HOUSE BILL 431 5
187	187
188	188
189	189	(2) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTIONS (C) AND (E) OF THIS 1
190	190	SECTION, IF THE EMPLOYEE ’S SCHEDULED HOURS AR E LESS THAN 4 HOURS, THE 2
191	191	EMPLOYER SHALL PAY THE EMPLOY EE FOR THE SCHEDULED HOURS OF THE 3
192	192	EMPLOYEE FOR THAT DA Y IF THE EMPLOYEE RE PORTS TO WORK , AS REQUIRED BY 4
193	193	THE EMPLOYER , BUT IS GIVEN LESS TH AN THE SCHEDULED HOU RS OF WORK. 5
194	194
195	195	(B) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTIONS (C) AND (E) OF THIS SECTION, IF 6
196	196	AN EMPLOYER REQUIRES AN EMPLOYEE TO BE AV AILABLE FOR AN ON –CALL SHIFT 7
197	197	BUT DOES NOT REQUIRE THE EMPLOYEE TO REPO RT TO WORK , THE EMPLOYER 8
198	198	SHALL PAY THE EMPLOY EE: 9
199	199
200	200	(1) 2 HOURS OF PAY AT THE EMPLOYEE’S REGULAR HOURLY RAT E 10
201	201	FOR EACH ON–CALL SHIFT OF 4 HOURS OR LESS; AND 11
202	202
203	203	(2) 4 HOURS OF PAY AT THE EMPLOYEE’S REGULAR HOURLY RAT E 12
204	204	FOR EACH ON–CALL SHIFT EXCEEDING 4 HOURS. 13
205	205
206	206	(C) AN EMPLOYER IS NOT RE QUIRED TO PAY THE WA GES REQUIRED UNDER 14
207	207	SUBSECTIONS (A) AND (B) OF THIS SECTION IF T HE CHANGE TO AN EMPL OYEE’S 15
208	208	WORK SHIFT: 16
209	209
210	210	(1) WAS MADE AT THE REQU EST OF THE EMPLOYEE , INCLUDING A 17
211	211	REQUEST TO: 18
212	212
213	213	(I) WORK SPECIFIC HOURS OTHER THAN THOSE SCH EDULED BY 19
214	214	THE EMPLOYER ; OR 20
215	215
216	216	(II) USE SICK LEAVE , VACATION LEAVE , PERSONAL DAYS , OR 21
217	217	OTHER LEAVE OFFERED BY THE EMPLOYER ; 22
218	218
219	219	(2) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTIO N (D) OF THIS SECTION, IS THE RESULT OF 23
220	220	A VOLUNTARY , MUTUALLY AGREED ON S HIFT TRADE AMONG EMP LOYEES; OR 24
221	221
222	222	(3) IS NECESSARY TO AVOI D A THREAT TO THE HE ALTH OR SAFETY OF 25
223	223	EMPLOYEES OR THE PUB LIC. 26
224	224
225	225	(D) (1) FOR THE PURPOSES OF SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION , A 27
226	226	SHIFT TRADE INCLUDES AN INSTANCE IN WHICH THE EMPLOYER TRANSMI TS THE 28
227	227	SHIFT TRADE OFFER TO ALL ELIGIBLE EMPLOYE ES AT THE PREVIOUSLY 29
228	228	SCHEDULED EMPLOYEE ’S REQUEST, IF THE EMPLOYER ’S TRANSMITTAL IS: 30
229	229
230	230	(I) ACCESSIBLE TO ALL E LIGIBLE EMPLOYEES IN THE FORM OF 31
231	231	A MASS COMMUNICATION ; 32 6 HOUSE BILL 431
232	232
233	233
234	234
235	235	(II) TRANSMITTED ELECTRON ICALLY OR IN WRITING AT THE 1
236	236	WORK SITE; AND 2
237	237
238	238	(III) NOT COERCIVE IN ANY WAY. 3
239	239
240	240	(2) THERE IS A REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION THAT THE PAY 4
241	241	REQUIRED UNDER SUBSE CTION (A) OR (B) OF THIS SECTION IS OWED IF THE 5
242	242	EMPLOYER FAILS TO DO CUMENT CONSENT TO TH E SHIFT TRADE. 6
243	243
244	244	(E) THE REQUIREMENTS UNDE R SUBSECTIONS (A) AND (B) OF THIS 7
245	245	SECTION DO NOT APPLY DURING PERIODS WHEN OPERATIONS OF THE EM PLOYER 8
246	246	ARE SUSPENDED DUE TO AN EVENT BEYOND THE EMPLOYER’S CONTROL. 9
247	247
248	248	3–1804. 10
249	249
250	250	(A) AN EMPLOYEE HAS THE R IGHT TO DECLINE TO W ORK HOURS THAT 11
251	251	OCCUR DURING THE 11 HOURS FOLLOWING THE END OF A SHIFT. 12
252	252
253	253	(B) AN EMPLOYER SHALL PAY AN EMPLOYEE 1.5 TIMES THE EMPLOYEE ’S 13
254	254	REGULAR RATE OF PAY FOR ANY HOURS WORKED DURING THE 11 HOURS 14
255	255	FOLLOWING THE END OF A PREVIOUS SHIFT IF THE EMPLOYEE AGREED IN WRITING 15
256	256	TO WORK THE HOURS . 16
257	257
258	258	3–1805. 17
259	259
260	260	(A) EACH EMPLOYER SHALL : 18
261	261
262	262	(1) RECORD THE WAGES PAI D TO AN EMPLOYEE UND ER §§ 3–1803 19
263	263	AND 3–1804 OF THIS SUBTITLE IN THE STATEMENT OF EAR NINGS REQUIRED BY § 20
264	264	3–504(A)(2) OF THIS TITLE; AND 21
265	265
266	266	(2) SPECIFY IN THE STATE MENT OF EARNINGS THE TOTAL AMOUNT 22
267	267	OF PAY PAID UNDER §§ 3–1803 AND 3–1804 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 23
268	268
269	269	(B) IF NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THIS SUBTITLE , THE COMMISSIONER MAY 24
270	270	REQUIRE AN EMPLOYER TO: 25
271	271
272	272	(1) INCLUDE ADDITIONAL I NFORMATION IN THE ST ATEMENT OF 26
273	273	EARNINGS; AND 27
274	274
275	275	(2) USE ADDITIONAL MEANS TO NOTIFY THE EMPLOY ER’S 28
276	276	EMPLOYEES OF THE INF ORMATION REQUIRED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE S TATEMENT 29 HOUSE BILL 431 7
277	277
278	278
279	279	OF EARNINGS UNDER SU BSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION. 1
280	280
281	281	3–1806. 2
282	282
283	283	(A) AN EMPLOYER SHALL GIV E EMPLOYEES NOTICE O F THEIR RIGHTS 3
284	284	UNDER THIS SUBTITLE BY CONSPICUOUSLY POS TING NOTICES IN ENGLISH AND 4
285	285	SPANISH AT A LOCATION AT THE WORK SITE THA T IS READILY ACCESSI BLE TO ALL 5
286	286	EMPLOYEES. 6
287	287
288	288	(B) THE NOTICES REQUIRED UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION 7
289	289	SHALL INCLUDE : 8
290	290
291	291	(1) THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE PAY UNDER §§ 3–1803 AND 3–1804 OF 9
292	292	THIS SUBTITLE; 10
293	293
294	294	(2) A STATEMENT THAT RET ALIATION AGAINST EMP LOYEES WHO 11
295	295	EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT S UNDER THIS SUBTITL E IS PROHIBITED; AND 12
296	296
297	297	(3) A STATEMENT THAT EAC H EMPLOYEE HAS THE R IGHT TO FILE A 13
298	298	COMPLAINT OR BRING A CIVIL ACTION TO ENFO RCE THE EMPLOYEE ’S RIGHTS 14
299	299	UNDER THIS SUBTITLE . 15
300	300
301	301	3–1807. 16
302	302
303	303	(A) EACH EMPLOYER SHALL K EEP FOR AT LEAST 3 YEARS AN ACCURATE 17
304	304	RECORD OF: 18
305	305
306	306	(1) THE NAME, ADDRESS, AND OCCUPATION OF EA CH EMPLOYEE ; 19
307	307
308	308	(2) THE AMOUNT PAID EACH PAY PERIOD TO EACH E MPLOYEE; 20
309	309
310	310	(3) THE HOURS WORKED EACH DA Y BY EACH EMPLOYEE ; 21
311	311
312	312	(4) THE INITIAL WORK SCH EDULE OF EACH EMPLOY EE; 22
313	313
314	314	(5) THE PAY PAID TO EACH EMPLOYEE UNDER §§ 3–1803 AND 3–1804 23
315	315	OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 24
316	316
317	317	(6) ANY SUBSEQUENT REVIS IONS TO THE INITIAL WORK SCHEDULE 25
318	318	OF EACH EMPLOYEE. 26
319	319
320	320	(B) THE EMPLOYER SHALL : 27
321	321	8 HOUSE BILL 431
322	322
323	323
324	324	(1) MAKE THE RECORDS KEP T UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS 1
325	325	SECTION AVAILABLE FO R INSPECTION BY THE COMMISSIONER TO THE S AME 2
326	326	EXTENT AND FOR THE S AME PURPOSES AS RECO RDS ARE MADE AVAILAB LE TO THE 3
327	327	COMMISSIONER UNDER § 3–425 OF THIS TITLE; AND 4
328	328
329	329	(2) ALLOW AN EMPLOYEE TO INSPECT AT ANY REASO NABLE TIME AND 5
330	330	PLACE ANY RECORD KEP T UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION PERT AINING TO 6
331	331	THE EMPLOYEE . 7
332	332
333	333	(C) EACH DAY THAT AN EMPL OYER FAILS TO KEEP A RECORD, FALSIFIES A 8
334	334	RECORD, OR OTHERWIS E VIOLATES THIS SECT ION SHALL CONSTITUTE A SEPARATE 9
335	335	VIOLATION. 10
336	336
337	337	3–1808. 11
338	338
339	339	(A) IN THIS SECTION , “RETALIATE” MEANS TO ENGAGE IN A NY FORM OF 12
340	340	INTIMIDATION, THREAT, REPRISAL, HARASSMENT , DISCRIMINATION , OR ADVERSE 13
341	341	EMPLOYMENT ACTION , INCLUDING: 14
342	342
343	343	(1) DISCIPLINE; 15
344	344
345	345	(2) DISCHARGE; 16
346	346
347	347	(3) SUSPENSION; 17
348	348
349	349	(4) TRANSFER OR ASSIGNME NT TO A LOWER POSITI ON IN TERMS OF 18
350	350	JOB CLASSIFICATION , JOB SECURITY, OR ANY OTHER CONDITI ON OF EMPLOYMENT ; 19
351	351
352	352	(5) REDUCTION IN PAY OR HOURS ASSIGNED ; 20
353	353
354	354	(6) DENIAL OF ADDITIONAL HOURS; 21
355	355
356	356	(7) INFORMING ANOTHER EM PLOYER THAT THE EMPL OYEE HAS 22
357	357	ENGAGED IN ACTIVITIE S PROTECTED BY THIS SUBTITLE; OR 23
358	358
359	359	(8) REPORTING OR THREATE NING TO REPORT THE A CTUAL OR 24
360	360	SUSPECTED CITIZENSHI P OR IMMIGRATION STA TUS OF AN EMPLOYEE , A FORMER 25
361	361	EMPLOYEE, OR A FAMILY MEM BER OF AN EMPLOYEE O R A FORMER EMPLOYEE TO A 26
362	362	FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL AGENCY . 27
363	363
364	364	(B) A PERSON MAY NOT INTER FERE WITH, RESTRAIN, OR DENY THE 28
365	365	EXERCISE OF, OR THE ATTEMPT TO EX ERCISE, ANY RIGHT PROTECTED UNDER THIS 29
366	366	SUBTITLE. 30 HOUSE BILL 431 9
367	367
368	368
369	369
370	370	(C) AN EMPLOYER MAY NOT R ETALIATE AGAINST AN EMPLOYEE BECAUSE 1
371	371	THE EMPLOYEE HAS : 2
372	372
373	373	(1) DECLINED TO WORK HOU RS NOT INCLUDED IN A N INITIAL WORK 3
374	374	SCHEDULE; OR 4
375	375
376	376	(2) EXERCISED RIGHTS PRO TECTED UNDER THIS SU BTITLE, 5
377	377	INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO: 6
378	378
379	379	(I) FILE A COMPLAINT UND ER § 3–1809 OF THIS SUBTITL E; 7
380	380
381	381	(II) INFORM ANY PERSON AB OUT THE EMPLOYER ’S ALLEGED 8
382	382	VIOLATION OF THIS SU BTITLE; 9
383	383
384	384	(III) COOPERATE WITH THE COMMISSIONER OR ATTORNEY 10
385	385	GENERAL IN AN INVESTI GATION OF AN ALLEGED VIOLATION OF THIS SU BTITLE; AND 11
386	386
387	387	(IV) INFORM AN INDIVIDUAL REGARDING T HE INDIVIDUAL ’S 12
388	388	RIGHTS UNDER THIS SU BTITLE. 13
389	389
390	390	(D) THERE IS A REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION THAT AN EMPLOYER HAS 14
391	391	VIOLATED THIS SECTIO N IF THE EMPLOYER TA KES AN ACTION LISTED IN 15
392	392	SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION AGAI NST AN EMPLOYEE WITH IN 90 DAYS AFTER 16
393	393	THE EMPLOYEE : 17
394	394
395	395	(1) FILES A COMPLAINT WI TH THE COMMISSIONER UNDER § 3–1809 18
396	396	OF THIS SUBTITLE ALL EGING A VIOLATION OF THIS SUBTITLE OR BRI NGS A CIVIL 19
397	397	ACTION UNDER § 3–1810 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 20
398	398
399	399	(2) INFORMS A PERSON ABO UT AN ALLEGED VIOLAT ION OF THIS 21
400	400	SUBTITLE BY THE EMPLOYER WITH THE EM PLOYER’S KNOWLEDGE ; 22
401	401
402	402	(3) COOPERATES WITH THE COMMISSIONER OR ANOTH ER PERSON IN 23
403	403	THE INVESTIGATION OR PROSECUTION OF AN AL LEGED VIOLATION OF T HIS 24
404	404	SUBTITLE BY THE EMPL OYER; 25
405	405
406	406	(4) OPPOSES ANY POLICY , PRACTICE, OR ACT THAT IS UNLAW FUL 26
407	407	UNDER THIS SUBTITLE ; OR 27
408	408
409	409	(5) INFORMS AN INDIVIDUA L OF THE INDIVIDUAL ’S RIGHTS UNDER 28
410	410	THIS SUBTITLE WITH T HE EMPLOYER ’S KNOWLEDGE . 29
411	411	10 HOUSE BILL 431
412	412
413	413
414	414	(E) THE PROTECTIONS AFFOR DED UNDER THIS SECTI ON SHALL APPLY TO 1
415	415	AN EMPLOYEE WHO MIST AKENLY, BUT IN GOOD FAITH , ALLEGES A VIO LATION OF 2
416	416	THIS SUBTITLE. 3
417	417
418	418	3–1809. 4
419	419
420	420	(A) (1) A PERSON MAY FILE A CO MPLAINT ALLEGING A V IOLATION OF 5
421	421	THIS SUBTITLE WITH T HE COMMISSIONER . 6
422	422
423	423	(2) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL KE EP CONFIDENTIAL THE IDENTITY 7
424	424	OF A PERSON THAT FIL ES A COMPLAINT UNLES S DISCLOSURE IS NECE SSARY FOR 8
425	425	THE RESOLUTION OF AN Y INVESTIGATION OR I S OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY LAW. 9
426	426
427	427	(3) IF THE COMMISSIONER NEEDS TO DISCLOSE THE IDENTIT Y OF A 10
428	428	PERSON THAT FILES A COMPLAINT, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL , TO THE EXTENT 11
429	429	PRACTICABLE , NOTIFY THE PERSON BE FORE THE DISCLOSURE IS MADE . 12
430	430
431	431	(B) (1) ON RECEIPT OF A COMPL AINT FILED UNDER SUB SECTION (A)(1) 13
432	432	OF THIS SECTION, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL SE ND A LETTER TO THE E MPLOYER. 14
433	433
434	434	(2) THE LETTER SHALL : 15
435	435
436	436	(I) STATE THAT THERE IS A COMPLAINT ALLEGING A 16
437	437	VIOLATION OF THIS SU BTITLE FILED AGAINST THE EM PLOYER; 17
438	438
439	439	(II) STATE THE REQUIREMEN TS OF SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS 18
440	440	SECTION; 19
441	441
442	442	(III) STATE THAT FAILURE T O COMPLY MAY RESULT IN A CIVIL 20
443	443	ACTION SEEKING DAMAG ES, COUNSEL FEES , AND OTHER LEGAL REME DIES; AND 21
444	444
445	445	(IV) INFORM THE EMPLOYER THAT RETALIATION AGA INST AN 22
446	446	EMPLOYEE FOR EXERCIS ING RIGHTS UNDER THI S SECTION IS A BASIS FOR A 23
447	447	PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACT ION SEEKING ADDITION AL MONETARY DAMAGES TO BE 24
448	448	DETERMINED BY A COUR T. 25
449	449
450	450	(C) IF AN EMPLOYER RECEIV ES A LETTER SENT UND ER SUBSECTION (B) OF 26
451	451	THIS SECTION, WITHIN 10 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THE LETTER , THE EMPLOYER 27
452	452	SHALL SUBMIT TO THE COMMISSIONER : 28
453	453
454	454	(1) PROOF OF COMPLIANCE WITH THIS SUBTITLE ; OR 29
455	455
456	456	(2) AN ACTION PLAN THE E MPLOYER WILL IMPLEME NT TO CORRECT 30 HOUSE BILL 431 11
457	457
458	458
459	459	ANY VIOLATION OF THI S SUBTITLE. 1
460	460
461	461	(D) IF THE COMMISSIONER DETERMIN ES THAT THIS SUBTITL E HAS BEEN 2
462	462	VIOLATED, THE COMMISSIONER MAY ISSU E AN ORDER: 3
463	463
464	464	(1) REQUIRING THE EMPLOY ER TO: 4
465	465
466	466	(I) COMPLY WITH THIS SUB TITLE; AND 5
467	467
468	468	(II) PAY ANY PAY UNDER §§ 3–1803 AND 3–1804 OR OTHER 6
469	469	WAGES OWED TO EMPLOY EES UNDER THIS SUBTITLE ; 7
470	470
471	471	(2) IMPOSING A CIVIL PEN ALTY NOT TO EXCEED $500 FOR EACH 8
472	472	VIOLATION OF THIS SU BTITLE; AND 9
473	473
474	474	(3) GRANTING ANY OTHER A PPROPRIATE RELIEF , INCLUDING: 10
475	475
476	476	(I) REINSTATEMENT OF EMP LOYMENT; 11
477	477
478	478	(II) INJUNCTIVE RELIEF ; 12
479	479
480	480	(III) ACTUAL DAMA GES; AND 13
481	481
482	482	(IV) AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT EQUAL TO TWICE ANY P AY UNDER 14
483	483	§§ 3–1803 AND 3–1804 OR OTHER WAGES OWED TO EMPLOYEES UNDER T HIS 15
484	484	SUBTITLE. 16
485	485
486	486	(E) (1) WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING AN ORDER ISSUED UNDE R 17
487	487	SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION , AN EMPLOYER MAY REQUEST A DE NOVO 18
488	488	ADMINISTRATIVE HEARI NG. 19
489	489
490	490	(2) AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEA RING REQUESTED UNDER PARAGRAPH 20
491	491	(1) OF THIS SUBSECTION S HALL BE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE 10, 21
492	492	SUBTITLE 2 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 22
493	493
494	494	(3) IF AN EMPLOYER DOES N OT REQUEST A HEARING UNDER 23
495	495	PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE ORDER ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER 24
496	496	BECOMES FINAL . 25
497	497
498	498	(4) (I) A FINAL ORDER OF THE COMMISSIONER MAY BE A PPEALED 26
499	499	IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 10–222 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 27
500	500
501	501	(II) IF AN EMPLOYER DOES N OT REQUEST JUDICIAL REV IEW OF 28 12 HOUSE BILL 431
502	502
503	503
504	504	A FINAL ORDER WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE ORDER BECOMES FINAL , THE 1
505	505	COMMISSIONER MAY FILE AN ACTION TO ENFORCE THE ORDER IN THE CIR CUIT 2
506	506	COURT FOR THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE EMPLOYE R RESIDES OR HAS A P LACE OF 3
507	507	BUSINESS. 4
508	508
509	509	(F) ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 1 EACH YEAR, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL 5
510	510	POST ON THE WEBSITE OF THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR: 6
511	511
512	512	(1) THE NUMBER AND NATUR E OF COMPLAINTS FILE D UNDER THIS 7
513	513	SECTION; 8
514	514
515	515	(2) THE RESULTS OF ANY I NVESTIGATIONS RELATE D TO A 9
516	516	COMPLAINT; 10
517	517
518	518	(3) THE NUMBER O F ORDERS ISSUED AND PENALTIES IMPOSED 11
519	519	UNDER THIS SECTION ; AND 12
520	520
521	521	(4) THE AVERAGE TIME TAK EN FOR A COMPLAINT T O BE RESOLVED . 13
522	522
523	523	3–1810. 14
524	524
525	525	(A) (1) ANY PERSON ALLEGING A VIOLATION OF THIS SU BTITLE MAY 15
526	526	BRING AN ACTION IN A COURT OF COMPETENT J URISDICTION. 16
527	527
528	528	(2) AN ACTION MAY BE BROU GHT WHETHER OR NOT A COMPLAINT 17
529	529	WAS FIRST FILED WITH THE COMMISSIONER . 18
530	530
531	531	(3) AN ACTION BROUGHT UND ER THIS SUBSECTION : 19
532	532
533	533	(I) SHALL BE FILED WITHI N 3 YEARS AFTER THE PERS ON KNEW 20
534	534	OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN OF THE ALLEGED VIOLA TION; AND 21
535	535
536	536	(II) MAY BE BROUGHT AS A CLASS ACTION IN ACCO RDANCE 22
537	537	WITH STATE LAW. 23
538	538
539	539	(B) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , IN AN ACTION 24
540	540	UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION , IF A COURT FINDS THA T AN EMPLOYER 25
541	541	HAS VIOLATED THIS SU BTITLE, THE COURT MAY AWARD : 26
542	542
543	543	(I) DAMAGES NOT TO EXCEE D $500 FOR EACH VIOLATION O F 27
544	544	THIS SUBTITLE; 28
545	545
546	546	(II) REINSTATEMENT OF EMP LOYMENT; 29 HOUSE BILL 431 13
547	547
548	548
549	549
550	550	(III) INJUNCTIVE RELIEF ; 1
551	551
552	552	(IV) ACTUAL DAMAGES ; 2
553	553
554	554	(V) ANY PAY UNDER §§ 3–1803 AND 3–1804 OR OTHER WAGES 3
555	555	OWED TO EMPLOYEES UN DER THIS SUBTITLE PLUS INTERE ST; 4
556	556
557	557	(VI) AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT EQUAL TO TWICE ANY P AY UNDER 5
558	558	§§ 3–1803 AND 3–1804 OR OTHER WAGES OWED TO EMPLOYEES UNDER T HIS 6
559	559	SUBTITLE; AND 7
560	560
561	561	(VII) REASONABLE ATTORNEY ’S FEES AND OTHER COS TS. 8
562	562
563	563	(2) (I) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS 9
564	564	PARAGRAPH , IF A COURT FINDS THA T AN EMPLOYER HAS VI OLATED § 3–1808(B) OF 10
565	565	THIS SUBTITLE OR OTH ERWISE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST AN EMPLOYEE , THE 11
566	566	COURT SHALL AWARD AC TUAL DAMAGES AND REI NSTATEMENT OF EMPLOY MENT. 12
567	567
568	568	(II) A COURT IS NOT REQUIRE D TO AWARD REINSTATEME NT OF 13
569	569	EMPLOYMENT IF THE EM PLOYEE WAIVES THE RI GHT TO REINSTATEMENT . 14
570	570
571	571	(III) IF THE COURT FINDS TH AT THE EMPLOYEE HAS BEEN 15
572	572	DISCHARGED IN RETALI ATION FOR EXERCISING RIGHTS UNDER THIS SU BTITLE, FOR 16
573	573	THE PURPOSE OF CALCU LATING ACTUAL DAMAGES REQUIRED TO BE AWARDED 17
574	574	UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH , THE PERIOD OF VIOLAT ION 18
575	575	BEGINS THE DAY THE E MPLOYEE WAS DISCHARG ED AND ENDS THE DAY BEFORE THE 19
576	576	EMPLOYEE IS REINSTAT ED OR THE DAY THE EM PLOYEE AGREES TO WAI VE 20
577	577	REINSTATEMENT . 21
578	578
579	579	(C) IN AN ACTION BROUGHT BY A PERSON OTHER THAN AN EMPLOYEE , ANY 22
580	580	PAY UNDER §§ 3–1803 AND 3–1804, WAGES, OR ACTUAL DAMAGES AW ARDED BY THE 23
581	581	COURT SHALL BE PAID TO THE EMPLOYEES TO WHOM THE VIOLATION R ELATES. 24
582	582
583	583	3–1811. 25
584	584
585	585	THIS SUBTITLE MAY BE CITED AS THE MARYLAND FAIR SCHEDULING ACT. 26
586	586
587	587	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 27
588	588	October 1, 2023. 28
589	589