Maryland 2022 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB8 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	hb0008
6	6
7	7	HOUSE BILL 8
8	8	K3 2lr0638
9	9	HB 375/21 – ECM (PRE–FILED) CF 2lr0702
10	10	By: Delegate Valderrama
11	11	Requested: October 5, 2021
12	12	Introduced and read first time: January 12, 2022
13	13	Assigned to: Economic Matters
14	14
15	15	A BILL ENTITLED
16	16
17	17	AN ACT concerning 1
18	18
19	19	Labor and Employment – Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program – 2
20	20	Establishment 3
21	21	(Time to Care Act of 2022) 4
22	22
23	23	FOR the purpose of establishing the Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program in the 5
24	24	Maryland Department of Labor to provide certain benefits to individuals who take 6
25	25	leave from employment for certain purposes; establishing the Family and Medical 7
26	26	Leave Insurance Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund; requiring, beginning on a 8
27	27	certain date, certain employees, employers, and self–employed individuals to 9
28	28	contribute to the Fund in a certain manner; requiring the Department, under certain 10
29	29	circumstances, to deduct and withhold a certain amount from benefits paid; 11
30	30	authorizing certain employees to bring a certain action against certain employers for 12
31	31	certain violations of this Act under certain circumstances; requiring the Secretary of 13
32	32	Labor to establish a system of appeals for certain covered individuals; requiring that 14
33	33	certain judicial review be allowed after a certain aggrieved party has exhausted 15
34	34	certain administrative remedies; requiring interest earnings of the Fund to be 16
35	35	credited to the Fund; and generally relating to the Family and Medical Leave 17
36	36	Insurance Program. 18
37	37
38	38	BY adding to 19
39	39	Article – Labor and Employment 20
40	40	Section 8.3–101 through 8.3–1001 to be under the new title “Title 8.3. Family and 21
41	41	Medical Leave Insurance Program” 22
42	42	Annotated Code of Maryland 23
43	43	(2016 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 24
44	44
45	45	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 25
46	46	Article – State Finance and Procurement 26
47	47	Section 6–226(a)(2)(i) 27
48	48	Annotated Code of Maryland 28 2 HOUSE BILL 8
49	49
50	50
51	51	(2021 Replacement Volume) 1
52	52
53	53	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 2
54	54	Article – State Finance and Procurement 3
55	55	Section 6–226(a)(2)(ii)144. and 145. 4
56	56	Annotated Code of Maryland 5
57	57	(2021 Replacement Volume) 6
58	58
59	59	BY adding to 7
60	60	Article – State Finance and Procurement 8
61	61	Section 6–226(a)(2)(ii)146. 9
62	62	Annotated Code of Maryland 10
63	63	(2021 Replacement Volume) 11
64	64
65	65	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
66	66	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13
67	67
68	68	Article – Labor and Employment 14
69	69
70	70	TITLE 8.3. FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE INSURANCE PROGRAM. 15
71	71
72	72	SUBTITLE 1. DEFINITIONS; GENERAL PROVISIONS. 16
73	73
74	74	8.3–101. 17
75	75
76	76	(A) IN THIS TITLE THE FOL LOWING WORDS HAVE TH E MEANINGS 18
77	77	INDICATED. 19
78	78
79	79	(B) “APPLICATION YEAR ” MEANS THE 12–MONTH PERIOD BEGINNI NG ON 20
80	80	THE FIRST DAY OF THE CALENDAR WEEK IN WHI CH A COVERED INDIVID UAL FILES 21
81	81	AN APPLICATION FOR B ENEFITS. 22
82	82
83	83	(C) “BENEFITS” MEANS THE MONEY PAYA BLE UNDER THIS TITLE TO A 23
84	84	COVERED INDIVIDUAL. 24
85	85
86	86	(D) “COVERED EMPLOYEE ” MEANS AN EMPLOYEE WH O HAS WORKED AT 25
87	87	LEAST 680 HOURS OVER THE 12–MONTH PERIOD IMMEDIA TELY PRECEDING THE 26
88	88	DATE ON WHICH LEAVE IS TO BEGIN. 27
89	89
90	90	(E) “COVERED INDIVIDUAL ” MEANS A COVERED EMPL OYEE OR A 28
91	91	SELF–EMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL WHO ELECTS TO PARTIC IPATE IN THE PROGRAM 29
92	92	UNDER § 8.3–201 OF THIS TITLE. 30
93	93
94	94	(F) “DEPARTMENT ” MEANS THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. 31
95	95	HOUSE BILL 8 3
96	96
97	97
98	98	(G) “EMPLOYER” MEANS A PERSON OR GO VERNMENTAL ENTITY TH AT 1
99	99	EMPLOYS AT LEAST ONE INDIVIDUAL IN THE STATE. 2
100	100
101	101	(H) “FAMILY MEMB ER” MEANS: 3
102	102
103	103	(1) A BIOLOGICAL CHILD , AN ADOPTED CHILD , A FOSTER CHILD, OR A 4
104	104	STEPCHILD OF THE COV ERED INDIVIDUAL ; 5
105	105
106	106	(2) A CHILD FOR WHOM THE COVERED INDIVIDUAL H AS LEGAL OR 6
107	107	PHYSICAL CUSTODY OR GUARDIANSHIP ; 7
108	108
109	109	(3) A CHILD FOR WHOM THE COVERED INDIVIDUAL STANDS IN LOCO 8
110	110	PARENTIS, REGARDLESS OF THE CH ILD’S AGE; 9
111	111
112	112	(4) A BIOLOGICAL PARENT , AN ADOPTIVE PARENT , A FOSTER PARENT , 10
113	113	OR A STEPPARENT OF T HE COVERED INDIVIDUA L OR OF THE COVERED INDIVIDUAL’S 11
114	114	SPOUSE; 12
115	115
116	116	(5) THE LEGAL GUARDIAN O F THE COVERED INDIVI DUAL OR THE 13
117	117	WARD OF THE COVERED INDIVIDUAL OR OF THE COVERED INDIVIDUAL ’S SPOUSE; 14
118	118
119	119	(6) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO AC TED AS A PARENT OR S TOOD IN LOCO 15
120	120	PARENTIS TO THE COVE RED INDIVIDUAL OR TH E COVERED INDIVIDUAL ’S SPOUSE 16
121	121	WHEN THE COVERED IND IVIDUAL OR THE COVER ED INDIVIDUAL’S SPOUSE WAS A 17
122	122	MINOR; 18
123	123
124	124	(7) THE SPOUSE OF THE CO VERED INDIVIDUAL ; 19
125	125
126	126	(8) A BIOLOGICAL GRANDPA RENT, AN ADOPTED GRANDPARE NT, A 20
127	127	FOSTER GRANDPARENT , OR A STEPGRANDPARENT OF THE COVERED INDIV IDUAL; 21
128	128
129	129	(9) A BIOLOGICAL GRANDCH ILD, AN ADOPTED GRANDCHIL D, A 22
130	130	FOSTER GRANDCHILD , OR A STEPGRANDCHILD OF THE COVERED INDIV IDUAL; OR 23
131	131
132	132	(10) A BIOLOGICAL SIBLING , AN ADOPTED SIBLING , A FOSTER SIBLING, 24
133	133	OR A STEPSIBLING OF THE COVERED INDIVIDU AL. 25
134	134
135	135	(I) “FUND” MEANS THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE INSURANCE FUND 26
136	136	ESTABLISHED UN DER § 8.3–501 OF THIS TITLE. 27
137	137
138	138	(J) “GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 8–101 OF 28
139	139	THIS ARTICLE. 29
140	140	4 HOUSE BILL 8
141	141
142	142
143	143	(K) “NEXT OF KIN” MEANS THE NEAREST BL OOD RELATIVE . 1
144	144
145	145	(L) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE INSURANCE 2
146	146	PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER § 8.3–301 OF THIS TITLE. 3
147	147
148	148	(M) “QUALIFYING EXIGENCY ” MEANS ANY OF THE FOL LOWING REASONS 4
149	149	FOR WHICH LEAVE MAY BE NEEDED BY A FAMIL Y MEMBER OF A SERVIC E MEMBER: 5
150	150
151	151	(1) BECAUSE THE SERVICE MEMBER HAS RECEIVED NOTICE OF 6
152	152	DEPLOYMENT WITHIN 7 DAYS BEFORE THE DEPL OYMENT IS TO BEGIN; 7
153	153
154	154	(2) TO ATTEND MILITARY E VENTS AND RELATED AC TIVITIES 8
155	155	INCLUDING FAMILY SUP PORT PROGRAMS RELATE D TO THE ACTIVE DUTY OF THE 9
156	156	SERVICE MEMBER ; 10
157	157
158	158	(3) TO ARRANGE , PROVIDE, OR ATTEND CHILD CARE OR SCHOOL 11
159	159	ACTIVITIES ONLY WHEN THE SERVICE MEMBER I S ON ACTIVE DUTY CALL O R ACTIVE 12
160	160	DUTY STATUS; 13
161	161
162	162	(4) TO MAKE FINANCIAL AN D LEGAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 14
163	163	SERVICE MEMBER ’S ABSENCE OR BECAUSE OF THE ABSENCE ; 15
164	164
165	165	(5) TO ATTEND COUNSELING THAT: 16
166	166
167	167	(I) IS NEEDED DUE TO THE ACTIVE DUTY OR CALL TO ACTIVE 17
168	168	DUTY STATUS O F THE SERVICE MEMBER ; AND 18
169	169
170	170	(II) IS PROVIDED BY AN IN DIVIDUAL WHO IS NOT A LICENSED 19
171	171	HEALTH CARE PROVIDER ; 20
172	172
173	173	(6) TO SPEND UP TO 15 CALENDAR DAYS WITH A SERVICE MEMBER 21
174	174	WHO IS ON SHORT –TERM TEMPORARY REST AND RECUPERATION LEA VE DURING 22
175	175	THE PERIOD OF DEPLOY MENT; 23
176	176
177	177	(7) TO ATTEND POSTDEPLOY MENT ACTIVITIES INCL UDING 24
178	178	REINTEGRATION SERVIC ES FOR A PERIOD OF 90 DAYS IMMEDIATELY FOL LOWING 25
179	179	THE TERMINATION OF A CTIVE STATUS; 26
180	180
181	181	(8) TO ATTEND TO MATTERS RELATED TO THE DEATH OF THE 27
182	182	SERVICE MEMBER WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY ST ATUS; 28
183	183
184	184	(9) TO ARRANGE FOR OR PR OVIDE ALTERNATIVE CA RE FOR A PARENT 29
185	185	OF THE SERVICE MEMBE R WHEN THE PARENT IS INCAPABLE OF SELF –CARE AND THE 30 HOUSE BILL 8 5
186	186
187	187
188	188	COVERED ACTIVE DUTY OR CALL TO ACTIVE DU TY NECESSITATES A CH ANGE; OR 1
189	189
190	190	(10) BECAUSE OF ANY OTHER ISSUES THAT ARISE OUT OF ACTIVE DUTY 2
191	191	OR A CALL TO ACTIVE DUTY THAT AN EMPLOYE R AND COVERED EMPLOY EE AGREE 3
192	192	SHOULD BE COVERED . 4
193	193
194	194	(N) “SECRETARY” MEANS THE SECRETARY OF LABOR. 5
195	195
196	196	(O) (1) “SERIOUS HEALTH CONDIT ION” MEANS AN ILLNESS , AN INJURY, 6
197	197	AN IMPAIRMENT , OR A PHYSICAL OR MENTAL CONDITION THA T INVOLVES: 7
198	198
199	199	(I) INPATIENT CARE IN A HOSPITAL, HOSPICE, OR RESIDENTIAL 8
200	200	HEALTH CARE FACILITY ; 9
201	201
202	202	(II) CONTINUED TREATMENT BY A LICENSED HEALTH CARE 10
203	203	PROVIDER; OR 11
204	204
205	205	(III) CONTINUED TREATMENT OR SUPERVISION AT HO ME BY A 12
206	206	LICENSED HEALT H CARE PROVIDER OR O THER COMPETENT INDIV IDUAL UNDER 13
207	207	THE SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. 14
208	208
209	209	(2) “SERIOUS HEALTH CONDIT ION” INCLUDES AN ILLNESS , AN 15
210	210	INJURY, AN IMPAIRMENT , OR A PHYSICAL OR MEN TAL CONDITION DESCRI BED IN 16
211	211	PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SU BSECTION THAT CONTIN UES OVER AN EXTENDED 17
212	212	PERIOD OF TIME AND R EQUIRES INTERMITTENT TREATMENT . 18
213	213
214	214	(P) “SERVICE MEMBER ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS AN ACTIVE DUT Y OR 19
215	215	FORMER MEMBER OF : 20
216	216
217	217	(1) THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES ; 21
218	218
219	219	(2) A RESERVE COMPONENT OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES ; 22
220	220	OR 23
221	221
222	222	(3) THE NATIONAL GUARD OF ANY STATE . 24
223	223
224	224	(Q) “TREATMENT” INCLUDES: 25
225	225
226	226	(1) EXAMINATIONS OR TEST ING TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT TO 26
227	227	WHICH A SERIOUS HEAL TH CONDITION EXISTS OR PERSISTS; 27
228	228
229	229	(2) ONGOING OR PERIODIC EVALUATIONS OF THE S ERIOUS HEALTH 28
230	230	CONDITION; AND 29 6 HOUSE BILL 8
231	231
232	232
233	233
234	234	(3) ACTUAL TREATMENT BY A HEALTH CARE PROVID ER. 1
235	235
236	236	8.3–102. 2
237	237
238	238	(A) THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO THE DISCLOS URE OF INFORMATION 3
239	239	TO: 4
240	240
241	241	(1) A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF T HE PUBLIC 5
242	242	EMPLOYEE’S OFFICIAL DUTIES; 6
243	243
244	244	(2) THE INDIVIDUAL TO WHOM T HE INFORMATION RELAT ES; OR 7
245	245
246	246	(3) IF AN AUTHORIZED REP RESENTATIVE HAS THE SIGNED 8
247	247	AUTHORIZATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO WHOM T HE INFORMATION RELAT ES, THE 9
248	248	AUTHORIZED REPRESENT ATIVE. 10
249	249
250	250	(B) AN EMPLOYEE OF THE DEPARTMENT MAY NOT DI SCLOSE INFORM ATION 11
251	251	RELATING TO AN INDIV IDUAL WHO HAS APPLIE D FOR OR RECEIVED BE NEFITS 12
252	252	UNDER THIS TITLE . 13
253	253
254	254	SUBTITLE 2. SCOPE OF TITLE. 14
255	255
256	256	8.3–201. 15
257	257
258	258	(A) (1) A SELF–EMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL MAY ELECT TO PARTICI PATE IN 16
259	259	THE PROGRAM BY FILING A W RITTEN NOTICE OF ELE CTION WITH THE SECRETARY 17
260	260	IN ACCORDANCE WITH R EGULATIONS ADOPTED B Y THE SECRETARY. 18
261	261
262	262	(2) AN ELECTION MADE UNDE R PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION 19
263	263	BECOMES EFFECTIVE ON THE DATE THE WRITTEN NOTICE IS FILED. 20
264	264
265	265	(B) (1) IF A SELF–EMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL ELECTS TO PARTICIPAT E IN 21
266	266	THE PROGRAM UNDER SUBSECT ION (A) OF THIS SECTION , THE INDIVIDUAL SHALL 22
267	267	PARTICIPATE FOR AN I NITIAL PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN 3 YEARS. 23
268	268
269	269	(2) ONCE THE INITIAL PART ICIPATION PERIOD EXP IRES, THE 24
270	270	SELF–EMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL MAY RENEW PARTICIPAT ION IN THE PROGRAM FOR A 25
271	271	PERIOD OF NOT LESS T HAN 1 YEAR. 26
272	272
273	273	(3) IF THE SELF–EMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL DOES NOT WISH TO REN EW 27
274	274	PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM UNDER PARAGRA PH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 28
275	275	WITHIN 30 DAYS BEFORE THE PART ICIPATION PERIOD EXP IRES, THE 29 HOUSE BILL 8 7
276	276
277	277
278	278	SELF–EMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL SHALL NOTIFY THE SECRETARY IN WRITING OF THE 1
279	279	SELF–EMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL ’S WITHDRAWAL FROM TH E PROGRAM. 2
280	280
281	281	(C) DURING THE PERIOD A S ELF–EMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATES IN 3
282	282	THE PROGRAM, THE SELF–EMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL SHALL PAY THE CONTRI BUTION 4
283	283	REQUIRED UNDER § 8.3–601 OF THIS TITLE. 5
284	284
285	285	8.3–202. 6
286	286
287	287	THIS TITLE MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO DIMINIS H AN EMPLOYER ’S 7
288	288	OBLIGATION TO COMPLY WITH A COLLECTIVE BA RGAINING AGREEMENT O R AN 8
289	289	EMPLOYER POLICY THAT ALLOWS AN EMPLOYEE T O TAKE LEAVE FOR A L ONGER 9
290	290	PERIOD OF TIME THAN THE EMPLOYEE WOULD BE ABLE TO RECEIVE B ENEFITS 10
291	291	UNDER THIS TITLE . 11
292	292
293	293	8.3–203. 12
294	294
295	295	(A) AN EMPLOYEE ’S RIGHT TO BENEFITS UNDER THIS TITLE MAY NOT BE 13
296	296	DIMINISHED BY A COLL ECTIVE BARGAINING AG REEMENT ENTERED INTO OR 14
297	297	RENEWED OR BY AN EMP LOYER POLICY ADOPTED OR RETAINED ON OR AF TER JUNE 15
298	298	1, 2022. 16
299	299
300	300	(B) AN AGREEMENT TO WAIVE THE EMPLOYEE ’S RIGHTS UNDER THIS TITLE 17
301	301	IS VOID AS AGAINST P UBLIC POLICY. 18
302	302
303	303	SUBTITLE 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. 19
304	304
305	305	8.3–301. 20
306	306
307	307	THERE IS A FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE INSURANCE PROGRAM IN THE 21
308	308	DEPARTMENT . 22
309	309
310	310	8.3–302. 23
311	311
312	312	THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY BENEFITS T O A 24
313	313	COVERED INDIVIDUAL W HO IS TAKING LEAVE F ROM EMPLOYMENT : 25
314	314
315	315	(1) TO CARE FOR A CHILD DURING THE FIRST YEA R AFTER THE 26
316	316	CHILD’S BIRTH OR AFTER THE PLACEMENT OF THE CHI LD THROUGH FOSTER CA RE, 27
317	317	KINSHIP CARE, OR ADOPTION; 28
318	318
319	319	(2) TO CARE FOR A FAMILY MEMBER WITH A SERIOU S HEALTH 29
320	320	CONDITION; 30 8 HOUSE BILL 8
321	321
322	322
323	323
324	324	(3) BECAUSE THE COVERED INDIVIDUAL HAS A SER IOUS HEALTH 1
325	325	CONDITION THAT RESUL TS IN THE COVERED IN DIVIDUAL BEING UNABL E TO 2
326	326	PERFORM THE FUNCTION S OF THE COVERED INDIVIDUAL’S POSITION; 3
327	327
328	328	(4) TO CARE FOR A SERVIC E MEMBER WHO IS THE COVERED 4
329	329	INDIVIDUAL’S NEXT OF KIN; OR 5
330	330
331	331	(5) BECAUSE THE COVERED INDIVIDUAL HAS A QUA LIFYING 6
332	332	EXIGENCY ARISING OUT OF THE DEPLOYMENT OF A SERVICE MEMBER WHO IS A 7
333	333	FAMILY MEMBER OF THE COVERED INDIVIDUAL. 8
334	334
335	335	SUBTITLE 4. ADMINISTRATION . 9
336	336
337	337	8.3–401. 10
338	338
339	339	THIS TITLE SHALL BE A DMINISTERED UNDER TH E SUPERVISION OF THE 11
340	340	SECRETARY. 12
341	341
342	342	8.3–402. 13
343	343
344	344	THE SECRETARY MAY DELEGAT E TO AN EMPLOYEE OF THE DEPARTMENT ANY 14
345	345	POWER OR DUTY THAT I S REASONABLE AND PRO PER FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF 15
346	346	THIS TITLE. 16
347	347
348	348	8.3–403. 17
349	349
350	350	(A) THE SECRETARY SHALL : 18
351	351
352	352	(1) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTIO N (B) OF THIS SECTION , ADOPT 19
353	353	REGULATIONS NECESSAR Y TO CARRY OUT THIS TITLE; 20
354	354
355	355	(2) ESTABLISH PROCEDURES AND FORMS FOR FILING CLAIMS FOR 21
356	356	BENEFITS, INCLUDING: 22
357	357
358	358	(I) PROCEDURES FOR NOTIF YING AN EMPLOYER WIT HIN 5 23
359	359	BUSINESS DAYS AFTER AN EMPLOYEE OF THE E MPLOYER FILES A CLAI M FOR 24
360	360	BENEFITS UNDER THIS TITLE; AND 25
361	361
362	362	(II) NOTICES OF ELECTIONS BY SELF–EMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS 26
363	363	FOR BENEFITS UNDER § 8.3–201 OF THIS TITLE; 27
364	364
365	365	(3) USE INFORMATION –SHARING AND INTEGRAT ION TECHNOLOGY TO 28 HOUSE BILL 8 9
366	366
367	367
368	368	FACILITATE THE DISCL OSURE OF RELEVANT IN FORMATION OR RECORDS NEEDED 1
369	369	FOR THE ADMINISTRATI ON OF THIS TITLE; AND 2
370	370
371	371	(4) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTIO N (D) OF THIS SECTION , CARRY OUT A 3
372	372	PUBLIC EDUCATION PRO GRAM. 4
373	373
374	374	(B) THE REGULATIONS ADOPT ED UNDER SUBSECTION (A)(1) OF THIS 5
375	375	SECTION SHALL BE CON SISTENT WITH REGULAT IONS ADOPTED TO IMPL EMENT THE 6
376	376	FEDERAL FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT AND ANY RELEVANT STATE LAWS TO 7
377	377	THE EXTENT THAT THE ADOPTED REGULATIONS DO NOT CONFLICT WIT H THIS 8
378	378	TITLE. 9
379	379
380	380	(C) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , A COVERED 10
381	381	INDIVIDUAL UNDER § 8.3–302(2), (3), (4), OR (5) OF THIS TITLE SHALL PROVIDE 11
382	382	CERTIFICATION FOR A CLAIM FOR BENEFITS U NDER THIS TITLE. 12
383	383
384	384	(2) A CERTIFICATION FOR A CLAIM FOR BENEF ITS FOR A COVERED 13
385	385	INDIVIDUAL UNDER § 8.3–302(2), (3), OR (4) OF THIS TITLE SHALL INCLUDE: 14
386	386
387	387	(I) THE DATE ON WHICH TH E SERIOUS HEALTH CON DITION OF 15
388	388	THE FAMILY MEMBER , COVERED INDIVIDUAL , OR SERVICE MEMBER CO MMENCED; 16
389	389
390	390	(II) THE PROBABLE DURATIO N OF THE SERIOUS HEALTH 17
391	391	CONDITION; 18
392	392
393	393	(III) THE APPROPRIATE FACT S RELATED TO THE SER IOUS 19
394	394	HEALTH CONDITION WIT HIN THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LICENSED HEALTH CARE 20
395	395	PROVIDER; 21
396	396
397	397	(IV) 1. FOR A CLAIM FOR BENE FITS UNDER § 8.3–302(2) OF 22
398	398	THIS TITLE, A STATEMENT THAT THE COVERED INDIVIDUAL NEEDS TO CARE FOR A 23
399	399	FAMILY MEMBER AND AN ESTIMATE OF THE AMOU NT OF TIME REQUIRED TO 24
400	400	PROVIDE THE CARE ; OR 25
401	401
402	402	2. FOR A CLAIM FOR BENE FITS UNDER § 8.3–302(3) OF 26
403	403	THIS TITLE, A STATEMENT THAT THE COVERED INDIVIDUAL I S UNABLE TO PERFORM 27
404	404	THE FUNCTIO NS OF THE COVERED IN DIVIDUAL’S POSITION; AND 28
405	405
406	406	(V) FOR A CERTIFICATION FOR INTERMITTENT LEA VE, THE 29
407	407	EXPECTED DATES AND D URATION OF THE LEAVE . 30
408	408
409	409	(3) THE SECRETARY SHALL ESTAB LISH STANDARDS IN RE GULATION 31
410	410	FOR THE CERTIFICATIO N OF CLAIMS FOR BENE FITS UNDER § 8.3–302(5) OF THIS 32 10 HOUSE BILL 8
411	411
412	412
413	413	TITLE. 1
414	414
415	415	(D) (1) THE SECRETARY MAY USE A P ORTION OF THE FUNDS PAID UNDER 2
416	416	§ 8.3–601 OF THIS TITLE OR OTH ER AVAILABLE FUNDING TO PAY FOR AND CARRY 3
417	417	OUT THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER SUBSECTION (A)(4) OF THIS SECTION. 4
418	418
419	419	(2) MATERIALS USED IN THE PUBLIC EDUCATION PRO GRAM 5
420	420	REQUIRED UNDER SUBSE CTION (A)(4) OF THIS SECTION SHAL L BE MADE AVAILABLE 6
421	421	IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. 7
422	422
423	423	8.3–404. 8
424	424
425	425	(A) TO ENFORCE THIS TITLE , THE SECRETARY MAY : 9
426	426
427	427	(1) CONDUCT AN INVESTIGA TION UNDER THIS TITL E, ON THE 10
428	428	SECRETARY’S OWN INITIATIVE OR ON RECEIP T OF A WRITTEN COMPL AINT; 11
429	429
430	430	(2) ADMINISTER AN OATH ; 12
431	431
432	432	(3) CERTIFY TO AN OFFICI AL ACT; 13
433	433
434	434	(4) TAKE A DEPOSITION ; 14
435	435
436	436	(5) ISSUE A SUBPOENA FOR THE ATTENDANCE OF A WITNESS TO 15
437	437	TESTIFY OR THE PRODU CTION OF BOOKS , CORRESPONDENCE , MEMORANDA , 16
438	438	PAPERS, OR OTHER RECORDS ; AND 17
439	439
440	440	(6) BRING A CIVIL ACTION IN THE COUNTY WHERE THE VIOLATION 18
441	441	ALLEGEDLY OCCURRED . 19
442	442
443	443	(B) (1) A SUBPOENA ISSUED UNDE R SUBSECTION (A)(5) OF THIS SECTION 20
444	444	SHALL BE SERVED IN A NY MANNER IN WHICH A SUBPOENA OF A COURT MAY BE 21
445	445	SERVED. 22
446	446
447	447	(2) IF A PERSON FAILS TO COMPLY WITH A SUBPOE NA ISSUED UNDER 23
448	448	SUBSECTION (A)(5) OF THIS SECTION ON A COMPLAINT FILED BY T HE SECRETARY, 24
449	449	THE CIRCUIT COURT FO R THE COUNTY WHERE T HE INVESTIGATION IS BEING 25
450	450	CONDUCTED OR WHERE T HE PERSON RESIDES , IS PRESENT, OR TRANSACTS 26
451	451	BUSINESS MAY ISSUE A N ORDER DIRECTING CO MPLIANCE WITH THE SU BPOENA OR 27
452	452	COMPELLING TESTIMONY . 28
453	453
454	454	(3) (I) SUBJECT TO SUBPARAGRA PH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH , A 29
455	455	PERSON MAY NOT BE EX CUSED FROM COMPLYING WITH A SUBPOENA ISSU ED UNDER 30 HOUSE BILL 8 11
456	456
457	457
458	458	SUBSECTION (A)(5) OF THIS SECTION ON THE G ROUND THAT THE EVIDE NCE OR 1
459	459	TESTIMONY REQUIRED M AY TEND TO INCRIMINA TE THE PERSON OR SUB JECT THE 2
460	460	PERSON TO A FORFEITU RE OR PENALTY . 3
461	461
462	462	(II) 1. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSUBPARAGRAPH 2 OF 4
463	463	THIS SUBPARAGRAPH , AFTER CLAIMING THE P RIVILEGE AG AINST 5
464	464	SELF–INCRIMINATION , A PERSON MAY NOT BE PROSECUTED OR SUBJEC TED TO ANY 6
465	465	FORFEITURE OR PENALT Y BECAUSE OF ANY MAT TER, THING, OR TRANSACTION 7
466	466	ABOUT WHICH THE PERS ON IS COMPELLED TO P RODUCE EVIDENCE OR T ESTIFY. 8
467	467
468	468	2. IF THE PERSON COMMITS PERJURY WHILE GIVING 9
469	469	TESTIMONY, THE PERSON IS SUBJEC T TO PROSECUTION FOR THAT OFFENSE . 10
470	470
471	471	8.3–405. 11
472	472
473	473	IN A CIVIL ACTION TO ENFORCE THIS TITLE , THE SECRETARY AND THE STATE 12
474	474	MAY BE REPRESENTED B Y: 13
475	475
476	476	(1) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL; OR 14
477	477
478	478	(2) ANY QUALIFIED ATTORN EY WHO: 15
479	479
480	480	(I) IS A SALARIED EMPLOY EE OF THE SECRETARY; AND 16
481	481
482	482	(II) ON RECOMMENDATION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, IS 17
483	483	DESIGNATED TO REPRES ENT THE SECRETARY OR THE BOARD OF APPEALS AND THE 18
484	484	STATE. 19
485	485
486	486	8.3–406. 20
487	487
488	488	(A) ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1 EACH YEAR, THE SECRETARY SHALL 21
489	489	SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNOR AND , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE 22
490	490	GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AN ANNUAL RE PORT ON THE 23
491	491	ADMINISTRATION AND O PERATION OF THIS TIT LE DURING THE IMMEDI ATELY 24
492	492	PRECEDING FISCAL YEA R. 25
493	493
494	494	(B) THE ANNUAL REPORT SHA LL INCLUDE INFORMATION REGARDIN G: 26
495	495
496	496	(1) PROJECTED AND ACTUAL PROGRAM PARTICIPATION RATES; 27
497	497
498	498	(2) CONTRIBUTION RATES ; 28
499	499
500	500	(3) PROJECTED AND ACTUAL FUND BALANCES ; 29 12 HOUSE BILL 8
501	501
502	502
503	503
504	504	(4) PUBLIC OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE EFFORTS; 1
505	505
506	506	(5) ALL ENFORCEMENT EFFO RTS; 2
507	507
508	508	(6) THE NUMBER AND STATUS OF COMPLAINTS UNDER SUBTITLE 9 OF 3
509	509	THIS TITLE; AND 4
510	510
511	511	(7) THE COST OF ADMINIST ERING THE PROGRAM. 5
512	512
513	513	SUBTITLE 5. THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE INSURANCE FUND. 6
514	514
515	515	8.3–501. 7
516	516
517	517	THERE IS A FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE INSURANCE FUND. 8
518	518
519	519	8.3–502. 9
520	520
521	521	(A) THE SECRETARY SHALL ADMIN ISTER THE FUND. 10
522	522
523	523	(B) THE FUND IS A SPECIAL, NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO 11
524	524	§ 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. 12
525	525
526	526	(C) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND SEPARATELY , AND THE 13
527	527	COMPTROLLER SHALL ACC OUNT FOR THE FUND. 14
528	528
529	529	8.3–503. 15
530	530
531	531	(A) THE FUND CONSISTS OF : 16
532	532
533	533	(1) EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIO NS; 17
534	534
535	535	(2) SELF–EMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS ; 18
536	536
537	537	(3) EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIO NS; 19
538	538
539	539	(4) MONEY PAID TO THE FUND FOR THE PURPOSE OF REIMBURSING 20
540	540	THE SECRETARY UNDER § 8.3–902 OF THIS TITLE FOR BENEFITS P AID IN ERROR; 21
541	541
542	542	(5) INTEREST EARNED ON M ONEY IN THE FUND; AND 22
543	543
544	544	(6) MONEY RECEIVED FOR T HE FUND FROM ANY OTHER S OURCE. 23
545	545	HOUSE BILL 8 13
546	546
547	547
548	548	(B) MONEY IN THE FUND MAY BE COMMINGLE D. 1
549	549
550	550	(C) THE FUND MAY BE USED ONLY FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS TITLE. 2
551	551
552	552	8.3–504. 3
553	553
554	554	(A) (1) THE STATE TREASURER IS CUSTODIA N OF THE FUND. 4
555	555
556	556	(2) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL MANAG E THE FUND IN 5
557	557	ACCORDANCE WITH REGU LATIONS THAT THE SECRETARY ADOPTS . 6
558	558
559	559	(B) UNDER THE DIRECTION O F THE SECRETARY, THE STATE TREASURER 7
560	560	SHALL ESTABLISH THE FUND ACCOUNT IN ANY FINANCI AL INSTITUTION IN WH ICH 8
561	561	THE GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE MAY BE DEPOSITE D. 9
562	562
563	563	(C) ON RECEIPT OF ANY MON EY PAYABLE TO THE FUND, THE SECRETARY 10
564	564	SHALL ENSURE IMMEDIA TE DEPOSIT OF THE MO NEY INTO THE FUND ACCOUNT AS 11
565	565	REQUIRED BY THE STATE TREASURER. 12
566	566
567	567	(D) IN ACCORDANCE WITH RE GULATIONS THAT THE SECRETARY ADOPTS , 13
568	568	MONEY IN THE FUND ACCOUNT : 14
569	569
570	570	(1) SHALL BE USED TO PAY BENEFITS UNDER THIS TITLE; AND 15
571	571
572	572	(2) MAY BE USED TO PAY F OR: 16
573	573
574	574	(I) THE PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM; AND 17
575	575
576	576	(II) ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INITIAL 18
577	577	IMPLEMENTATION AND O NGOING ADMINISTRATIO N OF THIS TITLE. 19
578	578
579	579	8.3–505. 20
580	580
581	581	A CHECK THAT THE STATE TREASURER ISSUES TO P AY BENEFITS OR 21
582	582	REFUNDS SHALL : 22
583	583
584	584	(1) BE ISSUED ONLY ON A WARRANT SIGNED BY TH E SECRETARY; 23
585	585
586	586	(2) BEAR THE SIGNATURE O F THE STATE TREASURER; AND 24
587	587
588	588	(3) BE COUNTERSIGNED BY AN AUTHORIZED AGENT . 25
589	589
590	590	8.3–506. 26 14 HOUSE BILL 8
591	591
592	592
593	593
594	594	THIS TITLE DOES NOT G RANT AN EMPLOYEE ANY PRIOR CLAIM OR RIGHT TO 1
595	595	MONEY THE EMPLOYEE P AYS INTO THE FUND. 2
596	596
597	597	SUBTITLE 6. CONTRIBUTIONS . 3
598	598
599	599	8.3–601. 4
600	600
601	601	(A) BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2023, EACH EMPLOYEE OF AN EMPLOYER, 5
602	602	EACH EMPLOYER , AND EACH SELF –EMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATING IN THE 6
603	603	PROGRAM SHALL CONTRIB UTE TO THE FUND. 7
604	604
605	605	(B) (1) (I) SUBJECT TO SUBPARAGRA PH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH , THE 8
606	606	SECRETARY SHALL SET A TOTAL RATE OF CONTRI BUTION TO BE PAID IN 9
607	607	ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SUBSECTION. 10
608	608
609	609	(II) THE TOTAL RATE OF CON TRIBUTION ESTABLISHE D UNDER 11
610	610	SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH : 12
611	611
612	612	1. MAY NOT EXCEED 0.75% OF AN EMPLOYEE ’S WAGES; 13
613	613
614	614	2. SHALL BE APPLIED TO ALL WAGES UP TO AND 14
615	615	INCLUDING THE SOCIAL SECURITY WAGE BASE ; 15
616	616
617	617	3. SHALL BE SHARED EQUA LLY BY EMPLOYERS AND 16
618	618	EMPLOYEES; AND 17
619	619
620	620	4. SHALL BE SUFFICIENT TO FUND THE BENEFITS 18
621	621	PAYABLE UNDER THIS T ITLE. 19
622	622
623	623	(2) EACH EMPLOYER SHALL C ONTRIBUTE AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO 50% 20
624	624	OF THE TOTAL RATE OF CONTRIBUTI ON FOR EACH EMPLOYEE EMPLOYED BY THE 21
625	625	EMPLOYER. 22
626	626
627	627	(3) (I) EACH EMPLOYEE OF AN E MPLOYER SHALL CONTRI BUTE AN 23
628	628	AMOUNT EQUAL TO 50% OF THE TOTAL RATE OF CONTRIBUTION . 24
629	629
630	630	(II) THE EMPLOYER OF THE EMPL OYEE SHALL DEDUCT TH E 25
631	631	CONTRIBUTION REQUIRE D UNDER SUBPARAGRAP H (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH FR OM 26
632	632	THE WAGES OF THE EMP LOYEE. 27
633	633
634	634	(4) EACH SELF–EMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATING IN THE 28
635	635	PROGRAM SHALL : 29 HOUSE BILL 8 15
636	636
637	637
638	638
639	639	(I) PAY CONTRIBUTIONS DU RING EACH YEAR THAT THE 1
640	640	SELF–EMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATES IN THE PROGRAM; AND 2
641	641
642	642	(II) CONTRIBUTE AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE TOTAL R ATE OF 3
643	643	CONTRIBUTION ESTABLI SHED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1)(I) OF THIS SUBSECTION . 4
644	644
645	645	SUBTITLE 7. BENEFITS. 5
646	646
647	647	8.3–701. 6
648	648
649	649	(A) BEGINNING JULY 1, 2024, A COVERED INDIVIDUAL TAKING LEAVE FROM 7
650	650	EMPLOYMENT MAY SUBMI T A CLAIM FOR BENEFITS TO: 8
651	651
652	652	(1) CARE FOR A NEWBORN C HILD OR A CHILD NEWL Y PLACED FOR 9
653	653	ADOPTION, FOSTER CARE , OR KINSHIP CARE WITH THE COVERED INDIVIDU AL 10
654	654	DURING THE FIRST YEA R AFTER THE BIRTH , ADOPTION, OR PLACEMENT ; 11
655	655
656	656	(2) CARE FOR A FAMILY ME MBER WITH A SERIOUS HEALTH 12
657	657	CONDITION; 13
658	658
659	659	(3) ATTEND TO A SERIOUS HEALTH CONDITION THA T RESULTS IN THE 14
660	660	COVERED INDIVIDUAL B EING UNABLE TO PERFO RM THE FUNCTIONS OF THE 15
661	661	COVERED INDIVIDUAL ’S POSITION; 16
662	662
663	663	(4) CARE FOR A SERVICE M EMBER WITH A SERIOUS HEALTH 17
664	664	CONDITION RESULTING FROM MILIT ARY SERVICE WHO IS T HE COVERED 18
665	665	INDIVIDUAL’S NEXT OF KIN; OR 19
666	666
667	667	(5) ATTEND TO A QUALIFYI NG EXIGENCY ARISING OUT OF THE 20
668	668	DEPLOYMENT OF A SERV ICE MEMBER WHO IS A FAMILY MEMBER OF THE COVERED 21
669	669	INDIVIDUAL. 22
670	670
671	671	(B) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , A COVERED 23
672	672	INDIVIDUAL MAY TAKE THE LEAVE FOR WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL IS EL IGIBLE FOR 24
673	673	BENEFITS UNDER SUBSE CTION (A) OF THIS SECTION ON A N INTERMITTENT LEAVE 25
674	674	SCHEDULE. 26
675	675
676	676	(2) IF LEAVE IS TAKEN ON AN INTERMITTENT LEAV E SCHEDULE, THE 27
677	677	COVERED INDIVIDUAL S HALL: 28
678	678
679	679	(I) MAKE A REASONABLE EF FORT TO SCHEDULE THE 29
680	680	INTERMITTENT LEAVE I N A MANNER THAT DOES NOT UNDULY DISRUPT T HE 30 16 HOUSE BILL 8
681	681
682	682
683	683	OPERATIONS OF THE EM PLOYER; AND 1
684	684
685	685	(II) PROVIDE THE EMPLOYER WITH REASONABLE AND 2
686	686	PRACTICABLE PRIOR NO TICE OF THE REASON F OR WHICH THE INTERMI TTENT 3
687	687	LEAVE IS NECESSARY . 4
688	688
689	689	(3) IF LEAVE IS TAKEN ON AN INTERMITTENT LEAV E SCHEDULE, AN 5
690	690	EMPLOYER MAY NOT RED UCE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF LEAVE TO WHICH TH E 6
691	691	COVERED INDIVIDUAL I S ENTITLED BEYOND TH E AMOUNT OF LEAVE AC TUALLY 7
692	692	TAKEN. 8
693	693
694	694	8.3–702. 9
695	695
696	696	(A) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAP H (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , A 10
697	697	COVERED INDIVIDUAL M AY NOT RECEIVE MORE THAN 12 WEEKS OF BENEFITS IN AN 11
698	698	APPLICATION YEAR . 12
699	699
700	700	(2) A COVERED INDIVIDUAL M AY RECEIVE AN ADDITI ONAL 12 WEEKS 13
701	701	OF BENEFITS IF THE C OVERED INDIVIDUAL DU RING THE SAME A PPLICATION YEAR : 14
702	702
703	703	(I) RECEIVED BENEFITS BE CAUSE THE COVERED IN DIVIDUAL 15
704	704	WAS ELIGIBLE FOR BEN EFITS UNDER § 8.3–701(A)(3) OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 16
705	705
706	706	(II) BECOMES ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS UNDER § 17
707	707	8.3–701(A)(1), (2), (4), OR (5) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 18
708	708
709	709	(B) IF A COVERED INDIVIDUAL TAKE S LEAVE FOR WHICH TH E COVERED 19
710	710	INDIVIDUAL IS RECEIV ING BENEFITS UNDER T HIS TITLE, THE LEAVE SHALL RUN 20
711	711	CONCURRENTLY WITH EL IGIBLE LEAVE THAT MA Y BE TAKEN BY THE CO VERED 21
712	712	INDIVIDUAL UNDER THE FEDERAL FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT. 22
713	713
714	714	(C) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 23
715	715	AN INDIVIDUAL RECEIV ING BENEFITS UNDER TITLE 8 OF THIS ARTICLE OR W AGE 24
716	716	REPLACEMENT BENEFITS UNDER TITLE 9 OF THIS ARTICLE IS N OT ELIGIBLE TO 25
717	717	RECEIVE BENEFITS UND ER THIS TITLE. 26
718	718
719	719	(2) AN INDIVIDUAL REC EIVING COMPENSATION FOR A PERMANENT 27
720	720	PARTIAL DISABILITY U NDER TITLE 9 OF THIS ARTICLE MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR 28
721	721	BENEFITS UNDER THIS TITLE. 29
722	722
723	723	8.3–703. 30
724	724
725	725	(A) AN EMPLOYER MAY ALLOW A COVERED INDIVIDUAL TO USE PAID 31 HOUSE BILL 8 17
726	726
727	727
728	728	VACATION, PAID SICK LEAVE , OR OTHER PAID TIME O FF UNDER AN EMPLOYER 1
729	729	POLICY IN ADDITION T O THE BENEFITS AVAIL ABLE UNDER THIS TITL E TO REPLACE 2
730	730	THE COVERED INDIVIDU AL’S WAGES UP TO 100% OF THE COVERED INDIV IDUAL’S 3
731	731	WEEKLY WAGE DURING T HE PERIOD OF LEAVE F OR WHICH BENEFITS AR E RECEIVED 4
732	732	UNDER THIS TITLE . 5
733	733
734	734	(B) AN EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIN G TO THE FUND MAY REQUIRE A CO VERED 6
735	735	INDIVIDUAL WHO RECEI VES BENEFITS UNDER T HIS TITLE TO USE THO SE BENEFITS 7
736	736	CONCURRENTLY WITH FA MILY OR MEDICAL LEAV E BENEFITS PROVIDED UNDER AN 8
737	737	EMPLOYER POLICY . 9
738	738
739	739	8.3–704. 10
740	740
741	741	(A) FOR THE PURPOSES OF T HIS SECTION: 11
742	742
743	743	(1) THE COVERED INDIVIDU AL’S AVERAGE WEEKLY WAG E SHALL BE 12
744	744	CALCULATED AS THE TO TAL WAGES RECEIVED B Y THE COVERED INDIVI DUAL OVER 13
745	745	THE LAST 680 HOURS FOR WHICH THE COVERED INDIVIDUAL W AS PAID DIVIDED BY 14
746	746	THE NUMBER OF WEEKS WORKED; AND 15
747	747
748	748	(2) THE STATE AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE SHALL BE THE WA GE 16
749	749	CALCULATED UNDER § 9–603 OF THIS ARTICLE. 17
750	750
751	751	(B) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE WEEKLY 18
752	752	BENEFIT AMOUNT PAYAB LE TO A COVERED INDI VIDUAL UNDER THIS TI TLE SHALL 19
753	753	BE: 20
754	754
755	755	(I) IF THE COVERED INDIV IDUAL’S AVERAGE WEEKLY WAG E IS 21
756	756	65% OR LESS OF THE STATE AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE, 90% OF THE COVERED 22
757	757	INDIVIDUAL’S AVERAGE WEEKLY WAG E; 23
758	758
759	759	(II) IF THE COVERED INDIV IDUAL’S AVERAGE WEEKLY WAG E IS 24
760	760	GREATER THAN 65% OF THE STATE AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE, THE SUM OF: 25
761	761
762	762	1. 90% OF THE COVERED INDIV IDUAL’S AVERAGE 26
763	763	WEEKLY WAGE UP TO 65% OF THE STATE AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE; AND 27
764	764
765	765	2. 50% OF THE COVERED INDIV IDUAL’S AVERAGE 28
766	766	WEEKLY WAGE THAT IS GREATER THAN 65% OF THE STATE AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE; 29
767	767	OR 30
768	768
769	769	(III) IF THE COVERED INDIVIDUAL IS TAKING PARTIALLY PAID 31
770	770	LEAVE, THE LESSER OF: 32 18 HOUSE BILL 8
771	771
772	772
773	773
774	774	1. THE AMOUNT REQUIRED TO MAKE UP THE 1
775	775	DIFFERENCE BETWEEN T HE WAGES PAID TO THE COVERED INDIVIDUAL W HILE THE 2
776	776	COVERED INDIVIDUAL I S TAKING PARTIALLY P AID LEAVE AND THE FU LL WAGES 3
777	777	NORMALLY PAID TO THE COVERED INDIVIDU AL; AND 4
778	778
779	779	2. IF THE COVERED INDIV IDUAL’S AVERAGE WEEKLY 5
780	780	WAGE IS GREATER THAN 65% OF THE STATE AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE, THE SUM OF: 6
781	781
782	782	A. 90% OF THE COVERED INDIV IDUAL’S AVERAGE 7
783	783	WEEKLY WAGE UP TO 65% OF THE STATE AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE; AND 8
784	784
785	785	B. 50% OF THE COVERED INDIV IDUAL’S AVERAGE 9
786	786	WEEKLY WAGE THAT IS GREATER THAN 65% OF THE STATE AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE. 10
787	787
788	788	(2) THE WEEKLY BENEFIT AM OUNT PAYABLE UNDER P ARAGRAPH (1) 11
789	789	OF THIS SUBSECTION : 12
790	790
791	791	(I) SHALL BE AT LEAST $50; AND 13
792	792
793	793	(II) MAY NOT EXCEED: 14
794	794
795	795	1. FOR THE 12–MONTH PERIOD BEGINNI NG JULY 1, 15
796	796	2024, $1,000; AND 16
797	797
798	798	2. FOR THE 12–MONTH PERIOD BEGINNI NG JULY 1, 17
799	799	2025, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT 12–MONTH PERIOD , THE AMOUNT DETERMINE D AND 18
800	800	ANNOUNCED BY THE SECRETARY UNDER PARAG RAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSEC TION. 19
801	801
802	802	(3) (I) IN THIS PARAGRAPH , “CONSUMER PRICE INDEX” MEANS 20
803	803	THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR ALL URBAN CONSUMERS FOR THE 21
804	804	WASHINGTON–ARLINGTON–ALEXANDRIA, DC–VA–MD–WV METROPOLITAN AREA 22
805	805	OR A SUCCESSOR INDEX PUBLISHED BY THE FED ERAL BUREAU OF LABOR 23
806	806	STATISTICS. 24
807	807
808	808	(II) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (IV) OF THIS 25
809	809	PARAGRAPH , FOR THE 12–MONTH PERIOD BEGINNI NG JULY 1, 2025, AND EACH 26
810	810	SUBSEQUENT 12–MONTH PERIOD , THE MAXIMUM WEEKLY B ENEFIT AMOUNT SHALL 27
811	811	BE INCREASED BY THE AMOUNT, ROUNDED TO THE NEARE ST CENT, THAT EQUALS 28
812	812	THE PRODUCT OF : 29
813	813
814	814	1. THE MAXIMUM WEEKLY B ENEFIT AMOUNT IN EFF ECT 30
815	815	FOR THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING 12–MONTH PERIOD ; AND 31 HOUSE BILL 8 19
816	816
817	817
818	818
819	819	2. THE ANNUAL PERCENT AGE GROWTH IN THE 1
820	820	CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR THE IMMEDIA TELY PRECEDING 12–MONTH PERIOD , 2
821	821	AS DETERMINED BY THE SECRETARY UNDER SUBPA RAGRAPH (III)1 OF THIS 3
822	822	PARAGRAPH . 4
823	823
824	824	(III) BEGINNING MARCH 1, 2025, AND ON EACH SUBSEQUE NT 5
825	825	SEPTEMBER 1, THE SECRETARY SHALL DETER MINE AND ANNOUNCE : 6
826	826
827	827	1. THE ANNUAL PERCENT AGE GROWTH, IF ANY, IN THE 7
828	828	CONSUMER PRICE INDEX BASED O N THE MOST RECENT 12–MONTH PERIOD FOR 8
829	829	WHICH DATA ARE AVAIL ABLE ON SEPTEMBER 1; AND 9
830	830
831	831	2. THE MAXIMUM WEEKLY B ENEFIT AMOUNT EFFECT IVE 10
832	832	FOR THE 12–MONTH PERIOD BEGINNI NG THE IMMEDIATELY F OLLOWING JULY 1. 11
833	833
834	834	(IV) IF THERE IS A DECLINE OR NO GROWTH IN THE CONSUMER 12
835	835	PRICE INDEX, THE MAXIMUM WEEKLY B ENEFIT AMOUNT SHALL REMAIN THE SAME 13
836	836	AS THE AMOUNT THAT W AS IN EFFECT FOR THE PRECEDING 12–MONTH PERIOD . 14
837	837
838	838	(C) AN INCREASE IN THE WE EKLY BENEFIT AMOUNT UNDER SUBSECTION 15
839	839	(B)(3) OF THIS SECTION APPL IES ONLY TO A CLAIM FOR BENEFITS FILED AF TER THE 16
840	840	DATE THE INCREASE BE COMES EFFECTIVE . 17
841	841
842	842	(D) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL: 18
843	843
844	844	(1) NOTIFY THE EMPLOYER OF A COVERED INDIVID UAL WITHIN 5 19
845	845	BUSINESS DAYS AFTER THE COVERED INDIVIDU AL FILES A CLAIM FOR BENEFITS 20
846	846	UNDER THIS TITLE ; 21
847	847
848	848	(2) APPROVE OR DENY THE CLAIM AN D NOTIFY THE COVERED 22
849	849	INDIVIDUAL WITHIN 10 BUSINESS DAYS AFTER THE COVERED INDIVIDU AL FILES THE 23
850	850	CLAIM; 24
851	851
852	852	(3) MAKE THE FIRST PAYME NT OF BENEFITS TO A COVERED 25
853	853	INDIVIDUAL WITHIN 5 BUSINESS DAYS AFTER THE CLAIM IS APPROVE D; AND 26
854	854
855	855	(4) MAKE SUBSEQUENT PAYMENTS EVERY 2 WEEKS UNTIL THE 27
856	856	BENEFIT PERIOD ENDS . 28
857	857
858	858	8.3–705. 29
859	859
860	860	(A) IF THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE DETERMINES TH AT BENEFITS 30 20 HOUSE BILL 8
861	861
862	862
863	863	PAID UNDER THIS SUBT ITLE ARE SUBJECT TO FEDERAL INCOME TAX , AT THE TIME 1
864	864	A COVERED INDIVIDUAL FILES A NEW CLAIM FO R BENEFITS, THE DEPARTMENT 2
865	865	SHALL NOTIFY THE COV ERED INDIVIDUAL THAT : 3
866	866
867	867	(1) THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE HAS DETERMINE D THAT THE 4
868	868	BENEFITS ARE SUBJECT TO FEDERAL INCOME TA X; 5
869	869
870	870	(2) THERE ARE REQUIREMEN TS REGARDING ESTIMAT ED TAX 6
871	871	PAYMENTS; 7
872	872
873	873	(3) THE COVERED INDIVIDUAL MAY ELECT TO HAVE FEDERAL 8
874	874	INCOME TAX DEDUCTED AND WITHHELD FROM TH E BENEFITS THAT THE COVERED 9
875	875	INDIVIDUAL RECEIVES UNDER THIS TITLE AT THE RATE SPECIFIED I N THE 10
876	876	INTERNAL REVENUE CODE; AND 11
877	877
878	878	(4) THE COVERED INDIVIDU AL IS ALLOWED TO CHA NGE A 12
879	879	PREVIOUSLY ELECTED WITHHO LDING STATUS. 13
880	880
881	881	(B) (1) IF A COVERED INDIVIDU AL ELECTS TO HAVE FE DERAL INCOME 14
882	882	TAX DEDUCTED AND WIT HHELD UNDER SUBSECTI ON (A)(3) OF THIS SECTION , THE 15
883	883	DEPARTMENT SHALL DEDUCT AND WIT HHOLD AN AMOUNT AT T HE RATE SPECIFIED 16
884	884	IN THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE IN A MANNER REQU IRED BY THE INTERNAL 17
885	885	REVENUE SERVICE. 18
886	886
887	887	(2) IF THE DEPARTMENT DEDUCTS AND WITHHOLD S FEDERAL 19
888	888	INCOME TAX UNDER PAR AGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE AMOUNT DEDUCTED 20
889	889	AND WITHHELD SHALL R EMAIN IN THE FUND UNTIL IT IS TRAN SFERRED TO THE 21
890	890	INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AS A PAYMENT OF INCOME TAX. 22
891	891
892	892	8.3–706. 23
893	893
894	894	(A) AN EMPLOYER MAY SATIS FY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS TITLE 24
895	895	THROUGH A PRIVATE EM PLOYER PLAN CONSISTI NG OF EMPLOYER –PROVIDED 25
896	896	BENEFITS, INSURANCE, OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH IF THE PRIVATE EMPLOYER 26
897	897	PLAN IS OFFERED TO A LL OF THE EMPLOYER ’S ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES AND MEETS 27
898	898	OR EXCEEDS THE RIGHT S, PROTECTIONS , AND BENEFITS PROVIDE D TO A COVERED 28
899	899	EMPLOYEE UNDER THIS TITLE. 29
900	900
901	901	(B) A PRIVATE EMPLOYER PLA N SHALL BE FILED WIT H THE DEPARTMENT 30
902	902	FOR APPROVAL . 31
903	903
904	904	(C) AN EMPLOYER THAT PROV IDES COVERED EMPLOYE ES WITH A PRIVATE 32
905	905	EMPLOYER PLAN AND AN EMPLOYEE THAT IS COV ERED BY A PRIVATE EM PLOYER 33 HOUSE BILL 8 21
906	906
907	907
908	908	PLAN ARE EXEMPT FROM THE CONTRIBUTIONS RE QUIRED UNDER SUBTITLE 6 OF 1
909	909	THIS TITLE. 2
910	910
911	911	8.3–707. 3
912	912
913	913	IF A COVERED INDIVIDU AL RECEIVES BENEFITS UNDER THIS TITLE OR TAKES 4
914	914	LEAVE FROM WORK FOR WHICH BENEFITS MAY B E PAID UNDER THIS TI TLE, THE 5
915	915	EMPLOYER OF THE COVE RED INDIVIDUAL SHALL , ON THE EXPIRATION OF THE 6
916	916	LEAVE, RESTORE THE COVERED INDIVIDUAL TO AN EQU IVALENT POSITION OF 7
917	917	EMPLOYMENT . 8
918	918
919	919	8.3–708. 9
920	920
921	921	IF A COVERED INDIVIDU AL IS RECEIVING BENE FITS UNDER THIS TITL E OR IS 10
922	922	TAKING LEAVE FOR WHI CH BENEFITS MAY BE P AID UNDER THIS TITLE , THE 11
923	923	EMPLOYER OF THE COVE RED INDIVIDUAL SHALL CONTINUE ANY EMPLOYM ENT 12
924	924	BENEFITS IN THE SAME MANNER AS REQUIRED U NDER TITLE 3, SUBTITLE 12 OF 13
925	925	THIS ARTICLE FOR THE TIME PERIOD THAT THE COVERED INDIVIDUAL I S ABSENT 14
926	926	FROM WORK OR RECEIVI NG BENEFITS UNDER TH IS TITLE. 15
927	927
928	928	SUBTITLE 8. NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES. 16
929	929
930	930	8.3–801. 17
931	931
932	932	(A) AN EMPLOYER SHALL PRO VIDE WRITTEN NOTICE TO EACH EMPLOYEE 18
933	933	OF THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF AN EMPLOYEE UNDER TH IS TITLE AT THE TIME OF 19
934	934	HIRE AND ANNUALLY TH EREAFTER. 20
935	935
936	936	(B) (1) WHEN AN EMPLOYEE REQU ESTS LEAVE UNDER THI S TITLE, OR 21
937	937	WHEN AN EMPLOYER KNO WS THAT AN EMPLOYEE ’S LEAVE MAY BE FOR A REASON 22
938	938	UNDER § 8.3–302 OF THIS TITLE, THE EMPLOYER SHALL N OTIFY THE EMPLOYEE O F 23
939	939	THE EMPLOYEE ’S ELIGIBILITY TO TAK E LEAVE FOR WHICH BE NEFITS MAY BE PAID 24
940	940	UNDER THIS TITLE WIT HIN 5 BUSINESS DAYS. 25
941	941
942	942	(2) THE NOTICE PROVIDED U NDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 26
943	943	SUBSECTION SHALL INC LUDE: 27
944	944
945	945	(I) THE RIGHT O F AN ELIGIBLE EMPLOY EE TO RECEIVE 28
946	946	PROGRAM BENEFITS UNDE R THIS TITLE; 29
947	947
948	948	(II) THE PROCEDURE FOR FI LING A CLAIM FOR BEN EFITS; 30
949	949
950	950	(III) AN ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE ’S RESPONSIBILITIES W ITH 31 22 HOUSE BILL 8
951	951
952	952
953	953	RESPECT TO PROVIDING NOTIFICATION PRIOR T O THE COMMENCEMENT O F LEAVE 1
954	954	AND ANY PENALTIES FOR FAILIN G TO DO SO; 2
955	955
956	956	(IV) THE RIGHT OF AN EMPL OYEE TO FILE A COMPL AINT FOR 3
957	957	ALLEGED VIOLATIONS O F THIS TITLE; 4
958	958
959	959	(V) THE RIGHT OF AN ELIG IBLE EMPLOYEE TO JOB 5
960	960	PROTECTION ; AND 6
961	961
962	962	(VI) A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROHIBITED ACTS , PENALTIES, AND 7
963	963	COMPLAINT PROCEDURES UND ER SUBTITLE 9 OF THIS TITLE. 8
964	964
965	965	(C) THE NOTICES REQUIRED UNDER THIS SUBTITLE SHALL BE PROVIDED IN 9
966	966	ACCORDANCE WITH REGU LATIONS ADOPTED BY T HE SECRETARY. 10
967	967
968	968	SUBTITLE 9. PROHIBITED ACTS; PENALTIES. 11
969	969
970	970	8.3–901. 12
971	971
972	972	(A) IF AN INDIVIDUAL WILL FULLY M AKES A FALSE STATEME NT OR 13
973	973	MISREPRESENTATION RE GARDING A MATERIAL F ACT OR WILLFULLY FAI LS TO 14
974	974	REPORT A MATERIAL FA CT TO OBTAIN BENEFIT S UNDER THIS TITLE , THE 15
975	975	INDIVIDUAL IS DISQUA LIFIED FROM RECEIVIN G BENEFITS FOR 1 YEAR. 16
976	976
977	977	(B) IF AN EMPLOYER WILLFU LLY MAKES OR CAUSES TO BE MADE A FALSE 17
978	978	STATEMENT OR WILLFUL LY FAILS TO REPORT A MATERIAL FACT REGARD ING A 18
979	979	CLAIM FOR BENEFITS B Y AN EMPLOYEE , THE EMPLOYER IS SUBJ ECT TO A CIVIL 19
980	980	PENALTY OF UP TO $1,000 FOR EACH OCCURRENCE . 20
981	981
982	982	(C) AN EMPLOYER MAY NOT W ILLFULLY: 21
983	983
984	984	(1) FAIL OR REFUSE TO PAY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FUND; OR 22
985	985
986	986	(2) TAKE DEDUCTIONS FROM THE WAGES OF AN EMPL OYEE TO PAY 23
987	987	ANY PORTION OF THE E MPLOYER CONTRIBUTION S DUE FROM THE EMPLO YER. 24
988	988
989	989	8.3–902. 25
990	990
991	991	(A) THE DEPARTMENT MAY SEEK REPAYMENT O F BENEFITS FROM AN 26
992	992	INDIVIDUAL WHO RECEI VED BENEFITS UNDER T HIS TITLE IF: 27
993	993
994	994	(1) THE BENEFITS WERE PA ID ERRONEOUSLY OR AS A RESULT OF 28
995	995	WILLFUL MISREPRESENT ATION BY THE INDIVID UAL; OR 29 HOUSE BILL 8 23
996	996
997	997
998	998
999	999	(2) A CLAIM FOR BENEFITS UNDER THIS TITLE IS REJECTED AFTER 1
1000	1000	THE BENEFITS WERE PA ID. 2
1001	1001
1002	1002	(B) THE SECRETARY MAY WAIVE I N WHOLE OR IN PART T HE REPAYMENT OF 3
1003	1003	BENEFITS UNDER SUBSE CTION (A) OF THIS SECTION IF: 4
1004	1004
1005	1005	(1) THE ERROR IN PAYMENT WAS NOT DUE TO ANY F ALSE STATEMENT , 5
1006	1006	NONDISCLOSURE OF MAT ERIAL FACT, OR MISREPR ESENTATION BY A COVE RED 6
1007	1007	INDIVIDUAL; OR 7
1008	1008
1009	1009	(2) THE REPAYMENT WOULD BE AGAINST EQUITY AN D GOOD 8
1010	1010	CONSCIENCE OR ADMINI STRATIVE EFFICIENCY . 9
1011	1011
1012	1012	8.3–903. 10
1013	1013
1014	1014	IF AN EMPLOYER FAILS TO PAY THE CONTRIBUT IONS DUE TO THE FUND, THE 11
1015	1015	SECRETARY MAY , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 8.3–404 OF THIS TITLE: 12
1016	1016
1017	1017	(1) ASSESS THE AMOUNT OF CONTRIBUTIONS AND IN TEREST DUE; 13
1018	1018
1019	1019	(2) MAKE AN ADDITIONAL A SSESSMENT IN AN AMOU NT NOT TO 14
1020	1020	EXCEED TWO TIMES THE CONTRIBUTIONS WITHHE LD, AS A PENALTY FOR FAI LURE 15
1021	1021	TO PAY THE CONTRIBUT IONS DUE; AND 16
1022	1022
1023	1023	(3) ORDER AN AUD IT OF THE EMPLOYER F OR THE IMMEDIATELY 17
1024	1024	FOLLOWING FISCAL YEA R TO INVESTIGATE AND DETERMINE COMPLIANCE WITH 18
1025	1025	THIS TITLE AND TITLES 3, 8, AND 9 OF THIS ARTICLE. 19
1026	1026
1027	1027	8.3–904. 20
1028	1028
1029	1029	A PERSON MAY NOT DISCH ARGE, DEMOTE, OR OTHERWISE DISCRIM INATE OR 21
1030	1030	TAKE ADVERSE ACTION AGAINST A COVERED INDI VIDUAL BECAUSE THE C OVERED 22
1031	1031	INDIVIDUAL HAS: 23
1032	1032
1033	1033	(1) FILED FOR, APPLIED FOR, OR RECEIVED BENEFITS , OR TAKEN 24
1034	1034	FAMILY OR MEDICAL LE AVE FOR WHICH BENEFI TS MAY BE PAID UNDER THIS TITLE; 25
1035	1035
1036	1036	(2) INQUIRED ABOUT THE R IGHTS AND RESPONSIBI LITIES UNDER 26
1037	1037	THIS TITLE; 27
1038	1038
1039	1039	(3) COMMUNICATED TO THE PERSON AN INTENT TO FILE A CLAIM, A 28
1040	1040	COMPLAINT, OR AN APPEAL UNDER T HIS TITLE; OR 29 24 HOUSE BILL 8
1041	1041
1042	1042
1043	1043
1044	1044	(4) TESTIFIED OR INTENDS TO TESTIFY OR OTHERW ISE HAS ASSISTED 1
1045	1045	IN A PROCEEDING UNDE R THIS TITLE. 2
1046	1046
1047	1047	8.3–905. 3
1048	1048
1049	1049	(A) (1) AN EMPLOYEE ALLEGING A VIOLATION OF THIS SUBTITLE MAY 4
1050	1050	FILE A COMPLAINT WIT H THE SECRETARY TO RECOVER LOST WAGES AND DAMAG ES 5
1051	1051	EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT OF WAGES, SALARY, EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS , OR OTHER 6
1052	1052	COMPENSATION DENIED OR LOST, AND APPROPRIATE PUNI TIVE DAMAGES . 7
1053	1053
1054	1054	(2) A COMPLAINT UNDER THIS SU BSECTION MAY ALSO SE EK 8
1055	1055	APPROPRIATE RELIEF I NCLUDING REINSTATEME NT OR THE HIRING OF EMPLOYEES 9
1056	1056	WITH OR WITHOUT BACK PAY. 10
1057	1057
1058	1058	(B) THIS SECTION DOES NOT DEPRIVE A PRIVATE RI GHT OR CAUSE OF 11
1059	1059	ACTION TO ANY EMPLOY EE FOR VIOLATIONS OF § 8.3–904 OF THIS SUBTITLE OR § 12
1060	1060	8.3–707 OF THIS TITLE. 13
1061	1061
1062	1062	8.3–906. 14
1063	1063
1064	1064	(A) (1) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY A DMINISTRATIVE REMEDY AVAILABLE 15
1065	1065	UNDER § 8.3–905 OF THIS SUBTITLE, AN EMPLOYEE MAY BRIN G AN ACTION AGAINST 16
1066	1066	AN EMPLOYER FOR VIOL ATIONS OF § 8.3–904 OF THIS SUBTITLE OR § 8.3–707 OR § 17
1067	1067	8.3–708 OF THIS TITLE TO REC OVER LOST WAGES AND DAMAGES EQUAL TO THE 18
1068	1068	AMOUNT OF WAGES , SALARY, EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS , OR OTHER COMPENSATIO N 19
1069	1069	DENIED OR LOST , AND APPROPRIATE PUNI TIVE DAMAGES . 20
1070	1070
1071	1071	(2) AN ACTION UNDER THIS SUBSECTION MAY SEEK INJUNCTIVE AN D 21
1072	1072	OTHER APPROPRIATE EQ UITABLE RELIEF INCLU DING REINSTATEMENT O R THE 22
1073	1073	HIRING OF EMPLOYEES WITH OR WITHOUT BACK PAY. 23
1074	1074
1075	1075	(B) ON A FINDING THAT AN EMPLOYEE IS ENTITLED TO JUDGMENT IN AN 24
1076	1076	ACTION UNDER SUBSECT ION (A) OF THIS SECTION , THE COURT SHALL ALLO W 25
1077	1077	AGAINST THE EMPLOYER REASONAB LE ATTORNEY’S FEES AND OTHER COS TS. 26
1078	1078
1079	1079	8.3–907. 27
1080	1080
1081	1081	(A) (1) THE SECRETARY SHALL ESTAB LISH A SYSTEM FOR AP PEALS BY 28
1082	1082	COVERED INDIVIDUALS IN THE CASE OF DENIA L OF BENEFITS UNDER THIS TITLE. 29
1083	1083
1084	1084	(2) THE SECRETARY MAY USE THE PROCEDURES UNDER § 8–806 OF 30
1085	1085	THIS ARTICLE FOR THE SYSTEM REQUIRED UNDE R PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 31 HOUSE BILL 8 25
1086	1086
1087	1087
1088	1088	SUBSECTION. 1
1089	1089
1090	1090	(B) JUDICIAL REVIEW OF AN Y DECISION WITH RESP ECT TO BENEFITS 2
1091	1091	UNDER THIS TITLE SHA LL BE ALLOWED IN A C OURT OF COMPETENT JU RISDICTION 3
1092	1092	AFTER AN AGGRIEVED P ARTY HAS EXHAUSTED A LL ADMINISTRATIVE RE MEDIES 4
1093	1093	ESTABLISHED BY THE SECRETARY UNDER THIS TITLE. 5
1094	1094
1095	1095	(C) THE SECRETARY SHALL IMPLE MENT PROCEDURES TO E NSURE 6
1096	1096	CONFIDENTIALITY OF A LL INFORMATION RELAT ED TO ANY CLAIMS FIL ED OR 7
1097	1097	APPEALS TAKEN TO THE MAXIMUM E XTENT ALLOWED BY LAW . 8
1098	1098
1099	1099	SUBTITLE 10. SHORT TITLE. 9
1100	1100
1101	1101	8.3–1001. 10
1102	1102
1103	1103	THIS TITLE MAY BE CIT ED AS THE MARYLAND FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE 11
1104	1104	INSURANCE PROGRAM. 12
1105	1105
1106	1106	Article – State Finance and Procurement 13
1107	1107
1108	1108	6–226. 14
1109	1109
1110	1110	(a) (2) (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and unless 15
1111	1111	inconsistent with a federal law, grant agreement, or other federal requirement or with the 16
1112	1112	terms of a gift or settlement agreement, net interest on all State money allocated by the 17
1113	1113	State Treasurer under this section to special funds or accounts, and otherwise entitled to 18
1114	1114	receive interest earnings, as accounted for by the Comptroller, shall accrue to the General 19
1115	1115	Fund of the State. 20
1116	1116
1117	1117	(ii) The provisions of subparagraph (i) of this paragraph do not apply 21
1118	1118	to the following funds: 22
1119	1119
1120	1120	144. the Health Equity Resource Community Reserve Fund; 23
1121	1121	[and] 24
1122	1122
1123	1123	145. the Access to Counsel in Evictions Special Fund; AND 25
1124	1124
1125	1125	146. THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE INSURANCE 26
1126	1126	FUND. 27
1127	1127
1128	1128	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall be construed to 28
1129	1129	apply only prospectively and may not be applied or interpreted to have any effect on or 29
1130	1130	application to any collective bargaining agreement entered into before the effective date of 30
1131	1131	this Act. 31
1132	1132	26 HOUSE BILL 8
1133	1133
1134	1134
1135	1135	SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, on or before Oct ober 1, 2022, 1
1136	1136	the Secretary of Labor shall adopt regulations as required under § 8.3–403 of the Labor and 2
1137	1137	Employment Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this Act. 3
1138	1138
1139	1139	SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 4
1140	1140	1, 2022. 5
1141	1141
1142	1142