WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 52
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Chapter 52
(Senate Bill 232)
AN ACT concerning
Public Employee Relations Act – Alterations
FOR the purpose of altering certain provisions of the Public Employee Relations Act,
including adding the definition of interested employee organization, altering the
timing of exclusive representative access to new employees, clarifying the
responsibilities of certain deputy directors, and clarifying the process for certain
investigations of unfair labor practices; and generally relating to alterations to the
Public Employee Relations Act.
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article – State Government
Section 22–101, 22–207(c), 22–305, 22–306(b), and 22–307(a) and (f)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement)
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
Article – State Government
Section 22–405(a)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – State Government
22–101.
(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b) “Board” means the Public Employee Relations Board.
(c) Unless specifically provided otherwise, “day” means a calendar day.
(d) “Employee organization” means a labor organization in which public
employees participate and that has as one of its primary purposes representing public
employees.
(e) “Exclusive representative” means an employee organization that has been
certified by the Board as an exclusive representative under Subtitle 4 of this title.
Ch. 52 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(F) “INTERESTED EMPLOYEE O RGANIZATION” MEANS:
(1) AN EMPLOYEE ORGANIZA TION ALREADY REPRESE NTING
EMPLOYEES IN A BARGAINING UNIT; OR
(2) A PETITIONER WHO HAS MET THE SHOWING OF I NTEREST
REQUIREMENT UNDER § 22–402 OF THIS TITLE.
[(f)] (G) “Lockout” means action taken by a public employer to:
(1) interrupt or prevent the continuity of the employees’ usual work for the
purpose and with the intent of coercing the employees into relinquishing rights guaranteed
by this title; or
(2) bring economic pressure on employees for the purpose of securing the
agreement of their executive representative to collective bargaining agreement terms.
[(g)] (H) “Public employee” means an individual who holds a position by
appointment or employment in the service of a public employer with collective bargaining
rights under Title 3 of the State Personnel and Pensions Article or Title 6, Subtitle 4 or 5
or Title 16, Subtitle 7 of the Education Article.
[(h)] (I) “Public employer” means:
(1) the State, including any unit, department, or instrumentality of the
State;
(2) a community college listed under § 16–702(b) of the Education Article;
and
(3) a county board of education or the Baltimore City Board of School
Commissioners.
[(i)] (J) (1) “Showing of interest form” means a written statement from a
public employee who wishes to be represented by a petitioning employee organization for
the purpose of collective bargaining.
(2) “Showing of interest form” includes:
(i) a union authorization card; or
(ii) a union membership card.
[(j)] (K) (1) “Strike” means any concerted action to impede the full and
proper performance of employment duties in order to induce, influence, coerce, or enforce WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 52
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demands for a change in wages, hours, terms, or other conditions of employment.
(2) “Strike” includes a total or partial:
(i) refusal or failure to report to work;
(ii) refusal or failure to perform employment duties;
(iii) withdrawal from work;
(iv) work stoppage; or
(v) work slowdown.
22–207.
(c) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection and subject to
paragraph (3) of this subsection, a public employer shall provide the exclusive
representative at least 10 days’ notice of the start date of a new employee in a bargaining
unit represented by the exclusive representative.
(2) A public employer may provide the exclusive representative with less
than 10 days’ notice if there is an urgent need critical to the employer that was not
reasonably foreseeable.
(3) The notice required under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall:
(i) be provided electronically to the local president or exclusive
representative designee within 5 days of the [employee’s first check–in] START OF ANY
CHECK–IN EVENT THE EMPLOYE R OBLIGATES THE EMPL OYEE TO ATTEND ;
(ii) except as provided in item (iii) of this paragraph, include the new
employee’s name, unit, and all employee identification numbers, including Workday
numbers;
(iii) exclude the new employee’s Social Security number; and
(iv) be considered confidential by an exclusive representative.
(4) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, an
exclusive representative may not disclose the information in a notice.
(ii) The exclusive representative may authorize a third–party
contractor to use the information in a notice, as directed by the exclusive representative, to
fulfill the exclusive representative’s statutory duties.
Ch. 52 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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22–305.
(a) The Board shall appoint:
(1) a deputy director PRIMARILY RESPONSIBL E for Executive Branch
labor relations;
(2) a deputy director PRIMARILY RESPONSIBL E for public school labor
relations; and
(3) a deputy director PRIMARILY RESPONSIBL E for public higher
education labor relations.
(b) The deputy directors:
(1) are responsible to and serve at the pleasure of the Board;
(2) must have knowledge of and experience with labor issues and the
subject matter area associated with their positions; and
(3) are entitled to the salary provided in the State budget.
22–306.
(b) In addition to any other powers or duties provided for elsewhere in this title,
Title 6, Subtitle 4 or 5 of the Education Article, Title 16, Subtitle 7 of the Education Article,
and Title 3 of the State Personnel and Pensions Article, the Board may:
(1) establish procedures for, supervise the conduct of, and resolve disputes
about elections for exclusive representatives;
(2) establish procedures for and resolve disputes about petitions for
bargaining unit clarification;
(3) establish procedures for and resolve disputes about petitions and
elections for decertification of an exclusive representative;
(4) investigate and take appropriate action in response to [complaints]
CHARGES of unfair labor practices, including strikes and lockouts;
(5) establish procedures for and resolve disputes about the negotiability of
bargaining subjects;
(6) on application by an employee organization or public employer,
determine that the applicant shall be designated as a joint public employer of public
employees in an employer–employee bargaining unit determined in accordance with WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 52
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Subtitle 4 of this title when such determination would best effectuate the purposes of this
subtitle; and
(7) resolve matters as provided in §§ 6–406, 6–507, and 16–707 of the
Education Article.
22–307.
(a) (1) If a party has been charged with engaging in [or has engaged in] an
unfair labor practice, the appropriate deputy director shall investigate the charge.
(2) If the Board, through the deputy director’s investigation, finds that
probable cause exists to support the charge of an unfair labor practice, the Board shall:
(i) issue a complaint against the party [stating] STATED IN the
[charges] CHARGE; and
(ii) not less than 15 days after issuing the complaint, issue a notice
of a hearing before the Board or the Office of Administrative Hearings.
(f) The appropriate deputy director shall provide relevant information gathered
in the investigation of a charge [or complaint] of unfair labor practices to the Board [and
the Office of Administrative Hearings].
22–405.
(a) (1) Within 5 days after determining that a valid petition has been
submitted under § 22–402 of this subtitle, the Board shall notify interested employee
organizations of the pending election petition.
(2) Within 10 days after determining that a valid petition has been
submitted under § 22–402 of this subtitle, the public employer, as appropriate, shall make
available to all interested employee organizations reasonable and equivalent means to
communicate by mail and in person with each employee in the appropriate bargaining unit
for the purpose of soliciting the employee’s vote in an election held under this section.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July
1, 2024.
Approved by the Governor, April 9, 2024.