Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB349 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	hb0349
6	6
7	7	HOUSE BILL 349
8	8	K3 3lr1675
9	9	HB 431/22 – ECM
10	10	By: Delegates Foley, Allen, Charkoudian, Lehman, Moon, Palakovich Carr, Ruth,
11	11	Shetty, Stewart, and Terrasa
12	12	Introduced and read first time: January 26, 2023
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	Maryland Fair Scheduling Act 2
20	20
21	21	FOR the purpose of requiring an employer who employs individuals in a food service facility 3
22	22	or retail establishment to pay certain employees at a certain rate of pay for certain 4
23	23	shifts of work, except under certain circumstances; providing that certain employees 5
24	24	employed in a food service facility or retail establishment have the right to decline 6
25	25	to work hours that occur during a certain period; and generally relating to fair 7
26	26	scheduling. 8
27	27
28	28	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
29	29	Article – Labor and Employment 10
30	30	Section 2–106(b) and 3–102(a) 11
31	31	Annotated Code of Maryland 12
32	32	(2016 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) 13
33	33
34	34	BY adding to 14
35	35	Article – Labor and Employment 15
36	36	Section 3–103(n); and 3–1801 through 3–1811 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 16
37	37	18. Fair Scheduling” 17
38	38	Annotated Code of Maryland 18
39	39	(2016 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) 19
40	40
41	41	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 20
42	42	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 21
43	43
44	44	Article – Labor and Employment 22
45	45
46	46	2–106. 23
47	47
48	48	(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, and in addition to authority 24 2 HOUSE BILL 349
49	49
50	50
51	51	to adopt regulations that is set forth elsewhere, the Commissioner may adopt regulations 1
52	52	that are necessary to carry out: 2
53	53
54	54	(1) Title 3, Subtitle 3 of this article; 3
55	55
56	56	(2) Title 3, Subtitle 5 of this article; 4
57	57
58	58	(3) Title 3, Subtitle 13 of this article; 5
59	59
60	60	(4) TITLE 3, SUBTITLE 18 OF THIS ARTICLE; 6
61	61
62	62	[(4)] (5) Title 4, Subtitle 2, Parts I through III of this article; 7
63	63
64	64	[(5)] (6) Title 5 of this article; 8
65	65
66	66	[(6)] (7) Title 6 of this article; and 9
67	67
68	68	[(7)] (8) Title 7 of this article. 10
69	69
70	70	3–102. 11
71	71
72	72	(a) In addition to any duties set forth elsewhere, the Commissioner shall: 12
73	73
74	74	(1) enforce Subtitle 2 of this title; 13
75	75
76	76	(2) carry out Subtitle 3 of this title; 14
77	77
78	78	(3) enforce Subtitle 4 of this title; 15
79	79
80	80	(4) enforce Subtitle 9 of this title; 16
81	81
82	82	(5) enforce Subtitle 16 of this title; [and] 17
83	83
84	84	(6) ENFORCE SUBTITLE 18 OF THIS TITLE; AND 18
85	85
86	86	[(6)] (7) enforce a local minimum wage law. 19
87	87
88	88	3–103. 20
89	89
90	90	(N) THE COMMISSIONER MAY COND UCT AN INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE 21
91	91	WHETHER A PROVISION OF SUBTITLE 18 OF THIS TITLE HAS BE EN VIOLATED, ON 22
92	92	THE COMMISSIONER ’S OWN INITIATIVE OR ON REC EIPT OF A WRITTEN CO MPLAINT 23
93	93	OF AN EMPLOYEE . 24
94	94
95	95	SUBTITLE 18. FAIR SCHEDULING. 25
96	96	HOUSE BILL 349 3
97	97
98	98
99	99	3–1801. 1
100	100
101	101	(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 2
102	102	INDICATED. 3
103	103
104	104	(B) “EMPLOYEE” DOES NOT INCLUDE : 4
105	105
106	106	(1) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS EXEMPT FROM THE M INIMUM WAGE AND 5
107	107	OVERTIME PROVISIONS OF THE FEDERAL FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT; OR 6
108	108
109	109	(2) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO PE RFORMS WORK FOR AN E MPLOYER FOR 7
110	110	REMUNERATION IF : 8
111	111
112	112	(I) THE INDIVIDUAL IS FR EE FROM THE EMPLOYER ’S CONTROL 9
113	113	AND DIRECTION REGARD ING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE WORK; 10
114	114
115	115	(II) THE INDIVIDUAL CUSTO MARILY IS ENGAGED IN AN 11
116	116	INDEPENDENT BUSINESS OR OCCUPATION OF THE SAME NATURE AS THAT INVOLVED 12
117	117	IN THE WORK; AND 13
118	118
119	119	(III) THE WORK IS: 14
120	120
121	121	1. OUTSIDE THE USUAL CO URSE OF BUSINESS OF THE 15
122	122	EMPLOYER; OR 16
123	123
124	124	2. PERFORMED OUTSIDE AN Y PLACE OF BUSINESS OF 17
125	125	THE EMPLOYER . 18
126	126
127	127	(C) “EMPLOYER” MEANS A PERSON THAT EMPLOYS INDIVIDUALS IN A FOOD 19
128	128	SERVICE FACILITY OR RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT . 20
129	129
130	130	(D) “FOOD SERVICE FACILITY ” MEANS AN ENTITY THAT IS A 21
131	131	FULL–SERVICE OR LIMITED –SERVICE R ESTAURANT, AS DEFINED UNDER THE 22
132	132	NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM, NAICS 7221 AND NAICS 23
133	133	7222, IF THE RESTAURANT IS : 24
134	134
135	135	(1) PART OF A CHAIN OF A T LEAST 10 RESTAURANTS NATIONWI DE; OR 25
136	136
137	137	(2) A FRANCHISE OF AT LE AST 10 ESTABLISHMENTS NATIO NWIDE, 26
138	138	INCLUDING: 27
139	139
140	140	(I) AN INTEGRATED ENTERP RISE THAT OWNS OR OP ERATES AT 28
141	141	LEAST 10 ESTABLISHMENTS IN TH E AGGREGATE NATIONAL LY; OR 29 4 HOUSE BILL 349
142	142
143	143
144	144
145	145	(II) AN ESTABLISHMENT OPE RATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH A 1
146	146	FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WHERE THE FRANCHISOR AND THE FRANCHISEE O WN OR 2
147	147	OPERATE AT LEAST 10 ESTABLISHMENTS IN TH E AGGREGATE NATIONAL LY. 3
148	148
149	149	(E) “ON–CALL SHIFT” MEANS TIME THAT AN E MPLOYER REQUIRES AN 4
150	150	EMPLOYEE TO BE AVAIL ABLE TO WORK AND TO CONTACT THE EMPLOYER OR THE 5
151	151	EMPLOYER’S DESIGNEE, OR TO WAIT TO BE CON TACTED BY THE EMPLOY ER OR THE 6
152	152	EMPLOYER’S DESIGNEE, WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE START O F A POTENTIAL SHIFT TO 7
153	153	DETERMINE WHETHER TH E EMPLOYEE MUST REPO RT TO WORK. 8
154	154
155	155	(F) “RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT ” MEANS A BUSINESS WHE RE GOODS ARE 9
156	156	SOLD ON THE PREMISES AT RETAIL AND THAT I S A PART OF A CHAIN OF AT LEAST 10 10
157	157	RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT S NATIONWIDE. 11
158	158
159	159	(G) “SHIFT” MEANS THE CONSECUTIV E HOURS AN EMPLOYER REQUIRES AN 12
160	160	EMPLOYEE TO WORK OR TO BE ON CALL TO WOR K. 13
161	161
162	162	3–1802. 14
163	163
164	164	THIS SUBTITLE MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO : 15
165	165
166	166	(1) DISCOURAGE OR PROHIB IT AN EMPLOYER FROM THE ADOPT ION 16
167	167	OR RETENTION OF POLI CIES THAT ARE MORE B ENEFICIAL TO EMPLOYE ES THAN THE 17
168	168	REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBTITLE; 18
169	169
170	170	(2) DIMINISH THE OBLIGAT ION OF AN EMPLOYER T O COMPLY WITH A 19
171	171	CONTRACT, A COLLECTIVE BARGAIN ING AGREEMENT , AN EMPLOYMENT BENEFI T 20
172	172	PLAN, OR ANY OTHER AGREEMENT THAT ESTAB LISHES POLICIES THAT ARE MORE 21
173	173	BENEFICIAL TO AN EMP LOYEE THAN THE REQUI REMENTS OF THIS SUBT ITLE; OR 22
174	174
175	175	(3) PREEMPT, LIMIT, OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE APPLICABILITY OF 23
176	176	ANY OTHER LAW , POLICY, OR STANDARD ESTABLIS HING SCHEDULING POLI CIES 24
177	177	THAT PROVIDE ADDITIONAL R IGHTS OR EXTEND OTHE R PROTECTIONS TO 25
178	178	EMPLOYEES BEYOND THO SE PROVIDED UNDER TH IS SUBTITLE. 26
179	179
180	180	3–1803. 27
181	181
182	182	(A) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTIONS (C) AND (E) OF THIS 28
183	183	SECTION AND PARAGRAP H (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , AN EMPLOYER SHALL PA Y AN 29
184	184	EMPLOYEE FOR AT LEAST 4 HOURS AT THE EMPLOYE E’S REGULAR RATE OF PA Y FOR 30
185	185	EACH SHIFT OR ON –CALL SHIFT FOR WHICH THE EMPLOYEE REPORTS TO WORK, AS 31
186	186	REQUIRED BY THE EMPL OYER, BUT IS REQUIRED TO W ORK LESS THAN 4 HOURS. 32 HOUSE BILL 349 5
187	187
188	188
189	189
190	190	(2) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTIONS (C) AND (E) OF THIS 1
191	191	SECTION, IF THE EMPLOYEE ’S SCHEDULED HOURS AR E LESS THAN 4 HOURS, THE 2
192	192	EMPLOYER SHALL PAY T HE EMPLOYEE FOR THE SCHEDULED HOURS OF T HE 3
193	193	EMPLOYEE FOR THAT DA Y IF THE EMPLOYEE RE PORTS TO WORK , AS REQUIRED BY 4
194	194	THE EMPLOYER , BUT IS GIVEN LESS TH AN THE SCHEDULED HOURS O F WORK. 5
195	195
196	196	(B) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTIONS (C) AND (E) OF THIS SECTION, IF 6
197	197	AN EMPLOYER REQUIRES AN EMPLOYEE TO BE AV AILABLE FOR AN ON –CALL SHIFT 7
198	198	BUT DOES NOT REQUIRE THE EMPLOYEE TO REPO RT TO WORK , THE EMPLOYER 8
199	199	SHALL PAY THE EMPLOY EE: 9
200	200
201	201	(1) 2 HOURS OF PAY AT THE EMPLOYEE’S REGULAR RATE FOR E ACH 10
202	202	ON–CALL SHIFT OF 4 HOURS OR LESS ; AND 11
203	203
204	204	(2) 4 HOURS OF PAY AT THE EMPLOYEE’S REGULAR RATE FOR E ACH 12
205	205	ON–CALL SHIFT EXCEEDING 4 HOURS. 13
206	206
207	207	(C) AN EMPLOYER IS NOT RE QUIRED TO PAY THE WA GES REQUIRED UNDER 14
208	208	SUBSECTIONS (A) AND (B) OF THIS SECTION IF T HE CHANGE TO AN EMPL OYEE’S 15
209	209	WORK SHIFT: 16
210	210
211	211	(1) WAS MADE AT THE REQU EST OF THE EMPLOYEE , INCLUDING A 17
212	212	REQUEST TO: 18
213	213
214	214	(I) WORK SPECIFIC HOURS OTHER THAN THOSE SCH EDULED BY 19
215	215	THE EMPLOYER ; OR 20
216	216
217	217	(II) USE SICK LEAVE, VACATION LEAVE , PERSONAL DAYS , OR 21
218	218	OTHER LEAVE OFFERED BY THE EMPLOYER ; 22
219	219
220	220	(2) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTIO N (D) OF THIS SECTION, IS THE RESULT OF 23
221	221	A VOLUNTARY , MUTUALLY AGREED ON S HIFT TRADE AMONG EMP LOYEES; OR 24
222	222
223	223	(3) IS NECESSARY TO AVOI D A THREAT TO THE H EALTH OR SAFETY OF 25
224	224	EMPLOYEES OR THE PUB LIC. 26
225	225
226	226	(D) (1) FOR THE PURPOSES OF S UBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION , A 27
227	227	SHIFT TRADE INCLUDES AN INSTANCE IN WHICH THE EMPLOYER TRANSMI TS THE 28
228	228	SHIFT TRADE OFFER TO ALL ELIGIBLE EMPLOYE ES AT THE PREVIOUSLY 29
229	229	SCHEDULED EMPLOYEE’S REQUEST, IF THE EMPLOYER ’S TRANSMITTAL IS: 30
230	230
231	231	(I) ACCESSIBLE TO ALL EL IGIBLE EMPLOYEES IN THE FORM OF 31 6 HOUSE BILL 349
232	232
233	233
234	234	A MASS COMMUNICATION ; 1
235	235
236	236	(II) TRANSMITTED ELECTRON ICALLY OR IN WRITING AT THE 2
237	237	WORK SITE; AND 3
238	238
239	239	(III) NOT COERCIVE IN ANY WAY. 4
240	240
241	241	(2) THERE IS A REBUTTABLE PRES UMPTION THAT THE PAY 5
242	242	REQUIRED UNDER SUBSE CTION (A) OR (B) OF THIS SECTION IS O WED IF THE 6
243	243	EMPLOYER FAILS TO DO CUMENT CONSENT TO TH E SHIFT TRADE. 7
244	244
245	245	(E) THE REQUIREMENTS UNDE R SUBSECTIONS (A) AND (B) OF THIS 8
246	246	SECTION DO NOT APPLY DURING PER IODS WHEN OPERATIONS OF THE EMPLOYER 9
247	247	ARE SUSPENDED DUE TO AN EVENT BEYOND THE EMPLOYER’S CONTROL. 10
248	248
249	249	3–1804. 11
250	250
251	251	(A) AN EMPLOYEE HAS THE R IGHT TO DECLINE TO W ORK HOURS THAT 12
252	252	OCCUR DURING THE 11 HOURS FOLLOWING THE END OF A SHIFT. 13
253	253
254	254	(B) IF AN EMPLOYEE AGREES IN WRITING TO WORK HOUR S THAT OCCUR 14
255	255	DURING THE 11 HOURS FOLLOWING THE END OF THE SHIFT , THE EMPLOYER SHALL 15
256	256	PAY THE EMPLOYEE: 16
257	257
258	258	(1) 1.5 TIMES THE EMPLOYEE ’S REGULAR RATE OF PA Y FOR THE 17
259	259	HOURS WORKED ; OR 18
260	260
261	261	(2) IF THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT WOULD BE PAID UNDER ITEM (1) OF 19
262	262	THIS SUBSECTION IS L ESS THAN THE EMPLOYEE WOULD B E PAID FOR 4 HOURS 20
263	263	WORKED AT THE EMPLOY EE’S REGULAR RATE OF PA Y, AN AMOUNT THAT IS AT LEAST 21
264	264	EQUIVALENT TO 4 HOURS PAID AT THE EM PLOYEE’S REGULAR RATE OF PA Y. 22
265	265
266	266	3–1805. 23
267	267
268	268	(A) AN EMPLOYER SHALL GIV E EMPLOYEES NOTICE OF THEI R RIGHTS 24
269	269	UNDER THIS SUBTITLE BY CONSPICUOUSLY POS TING NOTICES IN ENGLISH AND 25
270	270	SPANISH AT A LOCATION AT THE WORK SITE THA T IS READILY ACCESSI BLE TO ALL 26
271	271	EMPLOYEES. 27
272	272
273	273	(B) THE NOTICES REQUIRED UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION 28
274	274	SHALL INCLUDE: 29
275	275
276	276	(1) THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE PAY UNDER §§ 3–1803 AND 3–1804 OF 30 HOUSE BILL 349 7
277	277
278	278
279	279	THIS SUBTITLE; 1
280	280
281	281	(2) A STATEMENT THAT RET ALIATION AGAINST EMP LOYEES WHO 2
282	282	EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT S UNDER THIS SUBTITL E IS PROHIBITED; AND 3
283	283
284	284	(3) A STATEMENT THAT EAC H EMPLOYEE HAS THE R IGHT TO FILE A 4
285	285	COMPLAINT OR BRING A CIVIL ACTION TO ENFO RCE THE EMPLOYEE ’S RIGHTS 5
286	286	UNDER THIS SUBTITLE . 6
287	287
288	288	3–1806. 7
289	289
290	290	(A) EACH EMPLOYER SHALL : 8
291	291
292	292	(1) RECORD THE WAGES PAI D TO AN EMPLOYEE UND ER §§ 3–1803 9
293	293	AND 3–1804 OF THIS SUBTITLE IN THE STATEMENT OF EAR NINGS REQU IRED BY § 10
294	294	3–504(A)(2) OF THIS TITLE; AND 11
295	295
296	296	(2) SPECIFY IN THE STATE MENT OF EARNINGS THE TOTAL AMOUNT 12
297	297	OF PAY PAID UNDER §§ 3–1803 AND 3–1804 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 13
298	298
299	299	(B) IF NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THIS SUBTITLE , THE COMMISSIONER MAY 14
300	300	REQUIRE AN EMPLOYER TO: 15
301	301
302	302	(1) INCLUDE ADDITIONAL I NFORMATION IN THE ST ATEMENT OF 16
303	303	EARNINGS; AND 17
304	304
305	305	(2) USE ADDITIONAL MEANS TO NOTIFY THE EMPLOY ER’S 18
306	306	EMPLOYEES OF THE INF ORMATION REQUIRED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE S TATEMENT 19
307	307	OF EARNINGS UNDER SU BSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION. 20
308	308
309	309	3–1807. 21
310	310
311	311	(A) IN ADDITION TO THE RE QUIREMENTS UNDER § 3–424 OF THIS TITLE, 22
312	312	EACH EMPLOYER SHALL KEEP , FOR AT LEAST 3 YEARS, AN ACCURATE RECORD O F: 23
313	313
314	314	(1) THE INITIAL WORK SCH EDULE OF EACH EMPLOY EE; 24
315	315
316	316	(2) THE PAY PAID TO EACH EMPLOYEE UNDER §§ 3–1803 AND 3–1804 25
317	317	OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 26
318	318
319	319	(3) ANY SUBSEQUENT REVIS IONS TO THE INITIAL WORK SCHEDULE 27
320	320	OF EACH EMPLOYEE . 28
321	321	8 HOUSE BILL 349
322	322
323	323
324	324	(B) THE EMPLOYER SHALL : 1
325	325
326	326	(1) COMPLY WITH ANY REGU LATIONS THAT THE MARYLAND 2
327	327	DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ADOPTS REGARDING EMPLOYEE R ECORD KEEPING ; 3
328	328
329	329	(2) MAKE THE RECORDS KEPT UNDER S UBSECTION (A) OF THIS 4
330	330	SECTION AVAILABLE FO R INSPECTION BY THE COMMISSIONER TO THE S AME 5
331	331	EXTENT AND FOR THE S AME PURPOSES AS RECO RDS ARE MADE AVAILAB LE TO THE 6
332	332	COMMISSIONER UNDER § 3–425 OF THIS TITLE; AND 7
333	333
334	334	(3) ALLOW AN EMPLOYEE TO INSPECT AT ANY REASONABLE TIME AND 8
335	335	PLACE ANY RECORD KEP T UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION PERT AINING TO 9
336	336	THE EMPLOYEE . 10
337	337
338	338	(C) EACH DAY THAT AN EMPL OYER FAILS TO KEEP A RECORD, FALSIFIES A 11
339	339	RECORD, OR OTHERWISE VIOLATE S THIS SECTION SHALL CONSTITUTE A SEPARAT E 12
340	340	VIOLATION. 13
341	341
342	342	3–1808. 14
343	343
344	344	(A) IN THIS SECTION , “RETALIATE” MEANS TO ENGAGE IN A NY FORM OF 15
345	345	INTIMIDATION, THREAT, REPRISAL, HARASSMENT , DISCRIMINATION , OR ADVERSE 16
346	346	EMPLOYMENT ACTION , INCLUDING: 17
347	347
348	348	(1) DISCIPLINE; 18
349	349
350	350	(2) DISCHARGE; 19
351	351
352	352	(3) SUSPENSION; 20
353	353
354	354	(4) TRANSFER OR ASSIGNMENT TO A LOWER POSITION IN TERMS OF 21
355	355	JOB CLASSIFICATION , JOB SECURITY, OR ANY OTHER CONDITI ON OF EMPLOYMENT ; 22
356	356
357	357	(5) REDUCTION IN PAY OR HOURS ASSIGNED ; 23
358	358
359	359	(6) DENIAL OF ADDITIONAL HOURS; 24
360	360
361	361	(7) INFORMING ANOTHER EM PLOYER THAT THE EMPL OYEE HAS 25
362	362	ENGAGED IN ACTIVITIE S PROTECTED BY THIS SUBTITLE; AND 26
363	363
364	364	(8) REPORTING OR THREATE NING TO REPORT THE A CTUAL OR 27
365	365	SUSPECTED CITIZENSHI P OR IMMIGRATION STA TUS OF AN EMPLOYEE , A FORMER 28
366	366	EMPLOYEE, OR A FAMILY MEMBER OF AN EMPLOYEE OR A FORMER EMPLOYEE TO A 29 HOUSE BILL 349 9
367	367
368	368
369	369	FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL AGENCY . 1
370	370
371	371	(B) A PERSON MAY NOT INTER FERE WITH, RESTRAIN, OR DENY THE 2
372	372	EXERCISE OF, OR THE ATTEMPT TO EX ERCISE, ANY RIGHT PROTECTED UNDER THIS 3
373	373	SUBTITLE. 4
374	374
375	375	(C) AN EMPLOYER MAY NOT R ETALIATE AGAINST AN EMPLOYEE BECAUSE 5
376	376	THE EMPLOYEE HAS : 6
377	377
378	378	(1) DECLINED TO WORK HOU RS NOT INCLUDED IN A N INITIAL WORK 7
379	379	SCHEDULE; OR 8
380	380
381	381	(2) EXERCISED RIGHTS PRO TECTED UNDER THIS SU BTITLE, 9
382	382	INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO: 10
383	383
384	384	(I) FILE A COMPLAINT UND ER § 3–1809 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 11
385	385
386	386	(II) INFORM ANY PERSON AB OUT THE EMPLOYER ’S ALLEGED 12
387	387	VIOLATION OF THIS SU BTITLE; 13
388	388
389	389	(III) COOPERATE WITH THE COMMISSIONER OR ATTORNEY 14
390	390	GENERAL IN AN INVESTI GATION OF AN ALLEGED VIOLATION OF THIS SU BTITLE; AND 15
391	391
392	392	(IV) INFORM AN INDIVIDUAL REGARDING TH E INDIVIDUAL’S 16
393	393	RIGHTS UNDER THIS SU BTITLE. 17
394	394
395	395	(D) THERE IS A REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION THAT AN EMPLOYER HAS 18
396	396	VIOLATED THIS SECTIO N IF THE EMPLOYER TA KES AN ACTION LISTED IN 19
397	397	SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION AGAI NST AN EMPLOYEE WITH IN 90 DAYS AFTER 20
398	398	THE EMPLOYEE : 21
399	399
400	400	(1) FILES A COMPLAINT WI TH THE COMMISSIONER UNDER § 3–1809 22
401	401	OF THIS SUBTITLE ALL EGING A VIOLATION OF THIS SUBTITLE OR BRI NGS A CIVIL 23
402	402	ACTION UNDER § 3–1810 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 24
403	403
404	404	(2) INFORMS A PERSON ABO UT AN ALLEGED VIOLAT ION OF THIS 25
405	405	SUBTITLE BY THE EMPL OYER WITH THE EMPLOYER ’S KNOWLEDGE ; 26
406	406
407	407	(3) COOPERATES WITH THE COMMISSIONER OR ANOTH ER PERSON IN 27
408	408	THE INVESTIGATION OR PROSECUTION OF AN AL LEGED VIOLATION OF T HIS 28
409	409	SUBTITLE BY THE EMPL OYER; 29
410	410
411	411	(4) OPPOSES ANY POLICY , PRACTICE, OR ACT THAT IS UNLAW FUL 30 10 HOUSE BILL 349
412	412
413	413
414	414	UNDER THIS SUBTITLE; OR 1
415	415
416	416	(5) INFORMS AN INDIVIDUA L OF THE INDIVIDUAL ’S RIGHTS UNDER 2
417	417	THIS SUBTITLE WITH T HE EMPLOYER ’S KNOWLEDGE . 3
418	418
419	419	(E) THE PROTECTIONS AFFOR DED UNDER THIS SECTI ON SHALL APPLY TO 4
420	420	AN EMPLOYEE WHO MIST AKENLY, BUT IN GOOD FAITH , ALLEGES A VIOLATION OF 5
421	421	THIS SUBTITLE. 6
422	422
423	423	3–1809. 7
424	424
425	425	(A) (1) A PERSON MAY FILE A CO MPLAINT ALLEGING A V IOLATION OF 8
426	426	THIS SUBTITLE WITH T HE COMMISSIONER . 9
427	427
428	428	(2) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL KE EP CONFIDENTIAL THE IDENTITY 10
429	429	OF A PERSON THAT FIL ES A COMPLAINT UNLES S DISCLOSURE IS NECE SSARY FOR 11
430	430	THE RESOLUTION OF ANY INVESTIGATION OR IS OTHERWISE REQUIRED B Y LAW. 12
431	431
432	432	(3) IF THE COMMISSIONER NEEDS TO DISCLOSE THE IDENTIT Y OF A 13
433	433	PERSON THAT FILES A COMPLAINT, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL , TO THE EXTENT 14
434	434	PRACTICABLE , NOTIFY THE PERSON BE FORE THE DISCLOSURE IS MADE. 15
435	435
436	436	(B) (1) ON RECEIPT OF A COMPL AINT FILED UNDER SUB SECTION (A)(1) 16
437	437	OF THIS SECTION THE COMMISSIONER SHALL SE ND A LETTER TO THE E MPLOYER. 17
438	438
439	439	(2) THE LETTER SHALL : 18
440	440
441	441	(I) STATE THAT THERE IS A COMPLAINT ALLEGING A 19
442	442	VIOLATION OF THIS SU BTITLE FILED AGAIN ST THE EMPLOYER ; 20
443	443
444	444	(II) STATE THE REQUIREMEN TS OF SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS 21
445	445	SECTION; 22
446	446
447	447	(III) STATE THAT FAILURE T O COMPLY MAY RESULT IN A CIVIL 23
448	448	ACTION SEEKING DAMAG ES, COUNSEL FEES , AND OTHER LEGAL REME DIES; AND 24
449	449
450	450	(IV) INFORM THE EMPLOYER THAT RETALIATION AGAINST AN 25
451	451	EMPLOYEE FOR EXERCIS ING RIGHTS UNDER THI S SECTION IS A BASIS FOR A 26
452	452	PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACT ION SEEKING ADDITION AL MONETARY DAMAGES TO BE 27
453	453	DETERMINED BY A COUR T. 28
454	454
455	455	(C) IF AN EMPLOYER RECEIV ES A LETTER SENT UND ER SUBSECTION (B) OF 29
456	456	THIS SECTION, WITHIN 10 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THE LETTER , THE EMPLOYER 30 HOUSE BILL 349 11
457	457
458	458
459	459	SHALL SUBMIT TO THE COMMISSIONER : 1
460	460
461	461	(1) PROOF OF COMPLIANCE WITH THIS SUBTITLE ; OR 2
462	462
463	463	(2) AN ACTION PLAN THE E MPLOYER WILL IMPLEME NT TO CORRECT 3
464	464	ANY VIOLATION OF THI S SUBTITLE. 4
465	465
466	466	(D) IF THE COMMISSIONER DETERMINE S THAT THIS SUBTITLE HAS BEEN 5
467	467	VIOLATED, THE COMMISSIONER MAY ISSU E AN ORDER: 6
468	468
469	469	(1) REQUIRING THE EMPLOY ER TO: 7
470	470
471	471	(I) COMPLY WITH THIS SUB TITLE; AND 8
472	472
473	473	(II) PAY ANY PAY UNDER §§ 3–1803 AND 3–1804 OF THIS 9
474	474	SUBTITLE OR OTHER WAGES OWED TO EMPLOYEES UNDER TH IS SUBTITLE; 10
475	475
476	476	(2) IMPOSING A CIVIL PEN ALTY NOT TO EXCEED $500 FOR EACH 11
477	477	VIOLATION OF THIS SU BTITLE; AND 12
478	478
479	479	(3) GRANTING ANY OTHER A PPROPRIATE RELIEF , INCLUDING: 13
480	480
481	481	(I) REINSTATEMENT OF EMP LOYMENT; 14
482	482
483	483	(II) INJUNCTIVE RELIEF ; 15
484	484
485	485	(III) ACTUAL DAMAGES ; AND 16
486	486
487	487	(IV) AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT EQUAL TO TWICE ANY P AY UNDER 17
488	488	§§ 3–1803 AND 3–1804 OF THIS SUBTITLE OR OTHER WAGES OWED TO EMPLOYEES 18
489	489	UNDER THIS SUBTITLE . 19
490	490
491	491	(E) (1) WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING AN ORDER ISSUED UNDE R 20
492	492	SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION, AN EMPLOYER MAY REQU EST A DE NOVO 21
493	493	ADMINISTRATIVE HEARI NG. 22
494	494
495	495	(2) AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEA RING REQUESTED UNDER PARAGRAPH 23
496	496	(1) OF THIS SUBSECTION S HALL BE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE 10, 24
497	497	SUBTITLE 2 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 25
498	498
499	499	(3) IF AN EMPLOYER DOES NOT REQUEST A HEARING UN DER 26
500	500	PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE ORDER ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER 27
501	501	BECOMES FINAL . 28 12 HOUSE BILL 349
502	502
503	503
504	504
505	505	(4) (I) A FINAL ORDER OF THE COMMISSIONER MAY BE A PPEALED 1
506	506	IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 10–222 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 2
507	507
508	508	(II) IF AN EMPLOYER DOES N OT REQUEST JUDICIAL REVIEW OF 3
509	509	A FINAL ORDER WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE ORDER BECOMES FINAL , THE 4
510	510	COMMISSIONER MAY FILE AN ACTION TO ENFORCE THE ORDER IN THE CIR CUIT 5
511	511	COURT FOR THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE EMPLOYE R RESIDES OR HAS A P LACE OF 6
512	512	BUSINESS. 7
513	513
514	514	(F) ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 1 EACH YEAR, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL 8
515	515	POST ON THE WEBSITE OF THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR: 9
516	516
517	517	(1) THE NUMBER AND NATUR E OF COMPLAINTS FILE D UNDER THIS 10
518	518	SECTION; 11
519	519
520	520	(2) THE RESULTS OF ANY I NVESTIGATIONS RELATE D TO A 12
521	521	COMPLAINT; 13
522	522
523	523	(3) THE NUMBER OF ORDERS ISSUED AND PENALTIES IMPOSED 14
524	524	UNDER THIS SECTION ; AND 15
525	525
526	526	(4) THE AVERAGE TIME TAK EN FOR A COMPLAINT T O BE RESOLVED . 16
527	527
528	528	3–1810. 17
529	529
530	530	(A) (1) ANY PERSON ALLEGING A VIOLATION OF THIS SU BTITLE MAY 18
531	531	BRING AN ACTION IN A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTI ON. 19
532	532
533	533	(2) AN ACTION MAY BE BROU GHT WHETHER OR NOT A COMPLAINT 20
534	534	WAS FIRST FILED WITH THE COMMISSIONER . 21
535	535
536	536	(3) AN ACTION BROUGHT UND ER THIS SUBSECTION : 22
537	537
538	538	(I) SHALL BE FILED WITHI N 3 YEARS AFTER THE PERS ON KNEW 23
539	539	OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN OF THE ALLEGED VIOLATIO N; AND 24
540	540
541	541	(II) MAY BE BROUGHT AS A CLASS ACTION IN ACCO RDANCE 25
542	542	WITH STATE LAW. 26
543	543
544	544	(B) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , IN AN ACTION 27
545	545	UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION , IF A COURT FINDS THA T AN EMPLOYER 28
546	546	HAS VIOLATED THIS SUBTITLE, THE COURT MAY AWARD : 29 HOUSE BILL 349 13
547	547
548	548
549	549
550	550	(I) DAMAGES NOT TO EXCEE D $500 FOR EACH VIOLATION O F 1
551	551	THIS SUBTITLE; 2
552	552
553	553	(II) REINSTATEMENT OF EMP LOYMENT; 3
554	554
555	555	(III) INJUNCTIVE RELIEF ; 4
556	556
557	557	(IV) ACTUAL DAMAGES ; 5
558	558
559	559	(V) ANY PAY UNDER §§ 3–1803 AND 3–1804 OF THIS SUBTITLE 6
560	560	OR OTHER WAGES OWED TO EMPLOYEES UNDER T HIS SUBTITLE PLUS IN TEREST; 7
561	561
562	562	(VI) AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT EQUAL TO TWICE ANY P AY UNDER 8
563	563	§§ 3–1803 AND 3–1804 OF THIS SUBTITLE OR OTHER WAGES OWED TO EMPLOYEES 9
564	564	UNDER THIS SUBTITLE ; AND 10
565	565
566	566	(VII) REASONABLE ATTORNEY ’S FEES AND OTHER COSTS . 11
567	567
568	568	(2) (I) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS 12
569	569	PARAGRAPH , IF A COURT FINDS THA T AN EMPLOYER HAS VI OLATED § 3–1808(B) OF 13
570	570	THIS SUBTITLE OR OTH ERWISE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST AN EMPLOYEE , THE 14
571	571	COURT SHALL AWARD AC TUAL DAMAGES AND REINSTATEMENT OF EMP LOYMENT. 15
572	572
573	573	(II) A COURT IS NOT REQUIRE D TO AWARD REINSTATE MENT OF 16
574	574	EMPLOYMENT IF THE EM PLOYEE WAIVES THE RI GHT TO REINSTATEMENT . 17
575	575
576	576	(III) IF THE COURT FINDS TH AT THE EMPLOYEE HAS BEEN 18
577	577	DISCHARGED IN RETALI ATION FOR EXERCISING RIGHTS UNDER THIS SUBTITLE , FOR 19
578	578	THE PURPOSE OF CALCU LATING ACTUAL DAMAGE S REQUIRED TO BE AWA RDED 20
579	579	UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH , THE PERIOD OF VIOLAT ION 21
580	580	BEGINS THE DAY THE E MPLOYEE WAS DISCHARG ED AND ENDS THE DAY BEFORE THE 22
581	581	EMPLOYEE IS REINSTAT ED OR THE DAY THE EMPLOYEE AGR EES TO WAIVE 23
582	582	REINSTATEMENT . 24
583	583
584	584	(C) IN AN ACTION BROUGHT BY A PERSON OTHER TH AN AN EMPLOYEE , ANY 25
585	585	PAY OR WAGES UNDER §§ 3–1803 AND 3–1804 OF THIS SUBTITLE OR ACTUAL 26
586	586	DAMAGES AWARDED BY T HE COURT SHALL BE PA ID TO THE EMPLOYEES TO WHOM 27
587	587	THE VIOLATION RELATES . 28
588	588
589	589	3–1811. 29
590	590
591	591	THIS SUBTITLE MAY BE CITED AS THE MARYLAND FAIR SCHEDULING ACT. 30 14 HOUSE BILL 349
592	592
593	593
594	594
595	595	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 1
596	596	October 1, 2023. 2
597	597