EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
Italics indicate opposite chamber/conference committee amendments.
*hb1424*
HOUSE BILL 1424
P1 EMERGENCY BILL (5lr1865)
ENROLLED BILL
— Appropriations/Budget and Taxation —
Introduced by Delegates J. Lewis, Feldmark, Allen, Amprey, Behler, Boafo, Cardin,
Charkoudian, Clippinger, Fair, Foley, Guzzone, Harrison, Healey, Holmes,
Ivey, D. Jones, Kaufman, Korman, R. Lewis, Mireku–North, Moon,
Palakovich Carr, Pasteur, Pruski, Roberts, Simmons, Solomon, Spiegel,
Stein, Stewart, Terrasa, Toles, Valderrama, Vogel, Wells, White Holland,
Williams, Wolek, and Ziegler Ziegler, Barnes, Chang, Acevero, Edelson,
Forbes, Harris, McCaskill, Ruff, Schindler, Shetty, and Watson
Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
_______ day of _______________ at _________ _______________ o’clock, ________M.
______________________________________________
Speaker.
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Catastrophic Event Account and, Federal Government Shutdown Employee 2
Assistance Loan Fund, and Powers of the Attorney General – Alterations 3
Support and Protections for Individuals Affected by Federal Actions 4
(Protect Our Federal Workers Act) 5
FOR the purpose of renaming the Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance 6
Loan Fund to be the Federal Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund; 7
authorizing funds appropriated to the Catastrophic Event Account to be expended to 8
assist in funding costs in connection with a closure, relocation, or mass layoff of a 9 2 HOUSE BILL 1424
unit of the federal government, or other similar circumstances; altering the purpose 1
of the Fund and the eligibility criteria to receive loans from the Fund; authorizing 2
the Maryland Department of Labor to disclose certain information to a third–party 3
vendor for a certain purpose and to forgive a loan from the Fund; expanding the 4
authority of the Attorney General to take certain actions under certain 5
circumstances; increasing the amount the Governor is required to appropriate in the 6
proposed budget each year to the Attorney General to be used for certain purposes; 7
altering a requirement that the Attorney General use a certain appropriation to 8
employ a certain number of attorneys; establishing the Expedited Hiring Program in 9
the Department of Budget and Management; authorizing an appointing authority to 10
recruit for certain vacant positions in State government under certain circumstances; 11
authorizing the Secretary of Budget and Management to contract with a certain entity 12
for a certain purpose; authorizing the disclosure of certain tax information to the 13
Maryland Department of Labor for certain purposes; requiring the Maryland 14
Department of Labor to conduct certain research and make a certain report; 15
authorizing the Governor to make certain transfers of funds subject to the review and 16
comment of the Legislative Policy Committee; and generally relating to the 17
Catastrophic Event Account and, the Federal Government Employee Assistance 18
Loan Fund, and the powers of the Attorney General, and the Expedited Hiring 19
Program and the Department of Budget and Management. 20
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 21
Article – State Finance and Procurement 22
Section 6–226(a)(1) and (2)(i) 23
Annotated Code of Maryland 24
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 25
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 26
Article – State Finance and Procurement 27
Section 6–226(a)(2)(ii)118., 7–324, and 7–327 28
Annotated Code of Maryland 29
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 30
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 31
Article – State Government 32
Section 6–106.1 33
Annotated Code of Maryland 34
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 35
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 36
Article – State Personnel and Pensions 37
Section 1–101(a), (b), (f), (j), (k), (m), and (p) 38
Annotated Code of Maryland 39
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 40
BY adding to 41
Article – State Personnel and Pensions 42 HOUSE BILL 1424 3
Section 7–201.1 1
Annotated Code of Maryland 2
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 3
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 4
Article – Tax – General 5
Section 13–203(c)(17) and (18) 6
Annotated Code of Maryland 7
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 8
BY adding to 9
Article – Tax – General 10
Section 13–203(c)(19) 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15
Article – State Finance and Procurement 16
6–226. 17
(a) (1) Except as otherwise specifically provided by law or by regulation of the 18
Treasurer, the Treasurer shall credit to the General Fund any interest on or other income 19
from State money that the Treasurer invests. 20
(2) (i) 1. This subparagraph does not apply in fiscal years 2024 21
through 2028. 22
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and unless 23
inconsistent with a federal law, grant agreement, or other federal requirement or with the 24
terms of a gift or settlement agreement, net interest on all State money allocated by the 25
State Treasurer under this section to special funds or accounts, and otherwise entitled to 26
receive interest earnings, as accounted for by the Comptroller, shall accrue to the General 27
Fund of the State. 28
(ii) The provisions of subparagraph (i) of this paragraph do not apply 29
to the following funds: 30
118. the Federal Government [Shutdown] Employee 31
Assistance Loan Fund; 32
7–324. 33
(a) In this section, “Account” means the Catastrophic Event Account. 34
4 HOUSE BILL 1424
(b) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Account is established to enable 1
the State or a local government to respond without undue delay to: 2
(1) a natural disaster or other catastrophic situation[, or]; 3
(2) federal employee financial hardship from a full or partial federal 4
government shutdown due to a lapse in federal appropriations that cannot be taken care of 5
within the resources of existing appropriations; OR 6
(3) FORMER FEDERAL EMPLO YEE FINANCIAL HARDSH IP FROM THE 7
CLOSURE, RELOCATION , OR MASS LAYOFF OF A UNIT OF THE FEDERAL 8
GOVERNMENT , OR OTHER SIMILAR CIR CUMSTANCES . 9
(c) The Governor may provide an appropriation in the budget bill to the Account. 10
(d) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, after a 15–day review and 11
comment period by the Legislative Policy Committee, the Governor may transfer funds by 12
budget amendment from the Account to the expenditure accounts of the appropriate unit 13
of State government or unit of local government. 14
(2) If the federal government is in a full or partial shutdown due to a lapse 15
in appropriations, after a 2–day review and comment period by the Legislative Policy 16
Committee, the Governor may transfer funds by budget amendment from the Account to 17
the Federal Government [Shutdown] Employee Assistance Loan Fund established under § 18
7–327 of this subtitle. 19
(e) Funds appropriated to the Catastrophic Event Account: 20
(1) may not be used to offset operating deficiencies in regular programs of 21
State government; but 22
(2) may be expended to assist a unit of State government or unit of local 23
government in funding costs in connection with: 24
(I) a natural disaster[,]; 25
(II) a catastrophic situation[, or]; 26
(III) a full or partial federal government shutdown due to a lapse in 27
appropriations; OR 28
(IV) A CLOSURE, RELOCATION, OR MASS LAYOFF OF A UNIT OF 29
THE FEDERAL GOVERNME NT. 30
HOUSE BILL 1424 5
(f) (1) The Account is a continuing, nonlapsing fund which is not subject to § 1
7–302 of this subtitle. 2
(2) The Treasurer shall separately hold, and the Comptroller shall account 3
for, the Account. 4
(3) The Account shall be invested and reinvested in the same manner as 5
other State funds. 6
(4) Any investment earnings shall be subject to § 7–311(d) of this subtitle. 7
(g) Money appropriated to the Account does not revert to the Revenue 8
Stabilization Account. 9
7–327. 10
(a) In this section, “Fund” means the Federal Government [Shutdown] Employee 11
Assistance Loan Fund. 12
(b) There is a Federal Government [Shutdown] Employee Assistance Loan Fund. 13
(c) The purpose of the Fund is to provide loans to [employees of the federal 14
government] STATE RESIDENTS who [are] are: 15
(1) [required to report to work at a work site located in the State; and 16
(2)] ARE EMPLOYEES OF THE FED ERAL GOVERNMENT , REQUIRED TO 17
REPORT TO WORK , AND WHO ARE not being paid because of a full or partial federal 18
government shutdown due to a lapse in appropriations AFTER JANUARY 1, 2025; OR 19
(2) IN THE IMMEDIATELY P RECEDING 6 MONTHS, AND ON OR AFTER 20
JANUARY 1, 2025, WERE TERMINATED FR OM EMPLOYMENT BY THE FEDERAL 21
GOVERNMENT DUE TO TH E CLOSURE, RELOCATION , OR MASS LAYOFF OF A UNIT OF 22
THE FEDERAL GOVERNME NT, OR OTHER SIMILAR CIR CUMSTANCES BEYOND TH E 23
EMPLOYEES’ CONTROL, AND WHO ARE EXPERIEN CING FINANCIAL HARDS HIP AS 24
DETERMINED BY THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. 25
(d) The Maryland Department of Labor shall administer the Fund. 26
(e) (1) The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of 27
this subtitle that shall be available in perpetuity for the purpose of providing loans in 28
accordance with the provisions of this section. 29
(2) The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the 30
Comptroller shall account for the Fund. 31
6 HOUSE BILL 1424
(3) THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IS AUTHORIZED T O 1
DISCLOSE INFORMATION TO THIRD–PARTY VENDORS TO VERIFY FE DERAL 2
EMPLOYMENT FOR THE P URPOSE OF ASSISTING WITH THE IMPLEMENTAT ION OF THE 3
FUND, SUBJECT TO PRIVACY C ONSIDERATIONS . 4
(f) The Fund consists of: 5
(1) money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; 6
(2) any interest earnings of the Fund; 7
(3) money transferred from the Catastrophic Event Account in accordance 8
with § 7–324 of this subtitle; 9
(4) repayments on loans made from the Fund; and 10
(5) any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the 11
Fund. 12
(g) The Fund shall be used only to provide no–interest loans to [employees of the 13
federal government] STATE RESIDENTS who [are] are: 14
(1) [required to report to work at a work site located in the State; and 15
(2)] ARE EMPLOYEES OF THE FED ERAL GOVERNMENT , REQUIRED TO 16
REPORT TO WORK, AND WHO ARE not being paid because of a full or partial federal 17
government shutdown due to a lapse in appropriations AFTER JANUARY 1, 2025; OR 18
(2) IN THE IMMEDIATELY P RECEDING 6 MONTHS, AND ON OR AFTER 19
JANUARY 1, 2025, WERE TERMINATED FROM EMPLOYMENT BY THE FE DERAL 20
GOVERNMENT DUE TO TH E CLOSURE, RELOCATION , OR MASS LAYOFF OF A UNIT OF 21
THE FEDERAL GOVERNME NT, OR OTHER SIMILAR CIR CUMSTANCES BEYOND TH E 22
EMPLOYEES’ CONTROL, AND WHO ARE EXPERIEN CING FINANCIAL HARDS HIP AS 23
DETERMINED BY THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. 24
(h) (1) The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same 25
manner as other State money may be invested. 26
(2) Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the Fund. 27
(i) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Maryland Department 28
of Labor shall establish procedures and eligibility criteria for loans from the Fund. 29
(2) The eligibility criteria shall include that: 30
HOUSE BILL 1424 7
(i) 1. the federal government is in a full or partial shutdown due 1
to a lapse in appropriations; OR 2
2. A UNIT OF THE FEDERA L GOVERNMENT HAS BEE N 3
CLOSED, BEEN RELOCATED , EXPERIENCED MASS LAY OFFS, OR EXPERIENCED 4
OTHER SIMILAR CIRCUM STANCES; and 5
(ii) an individual applying for a loan from the Fund is, A RESIDENT 6
OF THE STATE WHO IS: 7
1. A RESIDENT OF THE STATE; AND 8
2. A. 1. an employee of the federal government WHO IS, 9
REQUIRED TO REPORT T O WORK, AND NOT BEING PAID BECAU SE OF THE FULL OR 10
PARTIAL FEDERAL GOVE RNMENT SHUTDOWN DUE TO THE LAPSE IN 11
APPROPRIATIONS AFTER JANUARY 1, 2025; OR 12
[2. required to report to work at a work site located in the 13
State; and 14
3. not being paid because of the full or partial federal 15
government shutdown due to the lapse in appropriations] 16
B. 2. A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE FEDE RAL 17
GOVERNMENT WHO , WITHIN THE 6 MONTHS IMMEDIATELY P RECEDING THE DATE OF 18
THE LOAN APPLICATION , AND ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2025, WAS TERMINATED 19
FROM EMPLOYMENT BY T HE FEDERAL GOVERNMEN T DUE TO THE CLOSURE , 20
RELOCATION , OR MASS LAYOFF OF A UNIT OF THE FEDERA L GOVERNMENT , OR 21
OTHER SIMILAR CIRCUM STANCES BEYOND THE I NDIVIDUAL’S CONTROL, AND WHO 22
IS EXPERIENCING FINA NCIAL HARDSHIP AS DE TERMINED BY THE MARYLAND 23
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. 24
(3) THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR MAY ESTABLISH O THER 25
CRITERIA TO BEST ASS IST FEDERAL EMPLOYEES FA CING FINANCIAL HARDS HIP. 26
(3) (4) The procedures shall include: 27
(i) application procedures; 28
(ii) payment procedures from the Fund; and 29
(iii) IF REPAYMENT IS REQUIRE D, repayment procedures, including 30
timelines, for an individual to repay a loan from the Fund. 31
8 HOUSE BILL 1424
(4) (5) THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR MAY FORGIVE A 1
LOAN PROVIDED UNDER THIS SECTION. 2
Article – State Government 3
6–106.1. 4
(a) The General Assembly finds that: 5
(1) the federal government’s action or failure to take action may pose a 6
threat to the health and welfare of the residents of the State; and 7
(2) the State should investigate and obtain relief from any arbitrary, 8
unlawful, or unconstitutional federal action or inaction and prevent such action or inaction 9
from harming the residents of the State. 10
(b) (1) In addition to any other powers and duties and subject to the 11
requirements of this subsection, the Attorney General may investigate, commence, and 12
prosecute or defend any civil or criminal suit or action that is based on the federal 13
government’s action or inaction that threatens the public interest and welfare of the 14
residents of the State with respect to: 15
(i) protecting the health of the residents of the State and ensuring 16
the availability of affordable health care; 17
(ii) safeguarding public safety and security; 18
(iii) protecting civil liberties; 19
(iv) preserving and enhancing the economic security of workers and 20
retirees; 21
(v) protecting financial security of the residents of the State, 22
including their pensions, savings, and investments, and ensuring fairness in mortgages, 23
student loans, and the marketplace; 24
(vi) protecting the residents of the State against fraud and other 25
deceptive and predatory practices; 26
(vii) protecting the natural resources and environment of the State; 27
(viii) protecting the residents of the State against illegal and 28
unconstitutional federal immigration and travel restrictions; [or] 29
(IX) PROTECTING RESIDENTS OF THE STATE WHO ARE 30
EMPLOYEES OF THE FED ERAL GOVERNMENT WHO ARE NOT BEING PAID B ECAUSE OF 31 HOUSE BILL 1424 9
A FULL OR PARTIAL FEDERAL GOVE RNMENT SHUTDOWN DUE TO A LAPSE IN 1
APPROPRIATIONS ; 2
(X) PROTECTING RESIDENTS OF THE STATE WHO WERE 3
EMPLOYEES OF THE FED ERAL GOVERNMENT , AND ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2025: 4
1. WERE TERMINATED FROM EMPLOYMENT BY THE 5
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DUE TO THE CLOSURE , RELOCATION , OR MASS LAYOFF OF 6
A UNIT OF THE FEDERA L GOVERNMENT , OR OTHER SIMILAR CIR CUMSTANCES 7
BEYOND THE EMPLOYEES ’ CONTROL; OR 8
2. SEPARATED FROM EMPLO YMENT BY THE FEDERAL 9
GOVERNMENT AS A RESU LT OF A VOLUNTARY SE PARATION INCENTIV E PAYMENT; 10
(XI) PROTECTING RESIDENTS OF THE STATE WHO ARE 11
INAPPROPRIATELY DENI ED FEDERAL BENEFITS THAT THEY HAVE EARNE D, 12
INCLUDING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS , MEDICARE, AND VETERANS AFFAIRS 13
BENEFITS; 14
(XII) PROTECTING RESIDENTS OF THE STATE WHO ARE 15
INAPPROPRIATELY DENI ED FEDERAL ENTITLEME NTS, INCLUDING MEDICAID; OR 16
[(ix)] (XI) (XIII) otherwise protecting, as parens patriae, the State’s 17
interest in the general health and well–being of its residents. 18
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, before 19
commencing a suit or an action under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Attorney 20
General shall provide to the Governor: 21
(i) written notice of the intended suit or action; and 22
(ii) an opportunity to review and comment on the intended suit or 23
action. 24
(3) If the Governor objects to the intended suit or action for which notice 25
was provided under this subsection: 26
(i) the Governor shall provide in writing to the Attorney General the 27
reasons for the objection within 10 days after receiving the notice; and 28
(ii) except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, the 29
Attorney General shall consider the Governor’s objection before commencing the suit or 30
action. 31
10 HOUSE BILL 1424
(4) If the Attorney General determines that emergency circumstances 1
require the immediate commencement of a suit or an action under paragraph (1) of this 2
subsection, the Attorney General shall provide to the Governor notice of the suit or action 3
as soon as reasonably practicable. 4
(c) The Governor’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2019, and for each fiscal year 5
thereafter, shall appropriate at least [$1,000,000] $2,500,000 to the Attorney General to 6
be used only for: 7
(1) carrying out this section; and 8
(2) employing [five] attorneys in the Office of the Attorney General. 9
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 10
as follows: 11
Article – State Personnel and Pensions 12
1–101. 13
(a) In this Division I of this article the following words have the meanings 14
indicated. 15
(b) “Appointing authority” means an individual or a unit of government that has 16
the power to make appointments and terminate employment. 17
(f) Unless expressly provided otherwise, “Department” means the Department of 18
Budget and Management. 19
(j) “Position” means an employment assignment of duties and responsibilities that 20
requires the full–time employment of one individual or less than full–time employment of 21
one or more individuals. 22
(k) “Principal unit” means: 23
(1) a principal department or other principal independent unit of State 24
government; or 25
(2) for an employee of a county board of elections whose employees are 26
covered by this article, the county board of elections. 27
(m) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Budget and Management. 28
(p) “State Personnel Management System” means the personnel system established 29
under § 6–101 of this article. 30
HOUSE BILL 1424 11
7–201.1. 1
(A) IN THIS SECTION , “PROGRAM” MEANS THE EXPEDITED HIRING 2
PROGRAM IN THE DEPARTMENT . 3
(B) (1) THERE IS AN EXPEDITED HIRING PROGRAM IN THE DEPARTMENT 4
FOR THE PURPOSE OF H IRING ELIGIBLE APPLI CANTS FOR VACANT POS ITIONS IN THE 5
STATE PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SUBJECT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF 6
THIS SECTION. 7
(2) SUBJECT TO THE AVAILA BILITY OF FUNDS, THE SECRETARY MAY 8
CONTRACT WITH ANOTHE R ENTITY TO ASSIST WITH THE I MPLEMENTATION OF THE 9
PROGRAM. 10
(C) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY O THER PROVISION OF TH IS SUBTITLE, AN 11
APPOINTING AUTHORITY : 12
(1) MAY RECRUIT FOR A VA CANT POSITION IN ACC ORDANCE WITH 13
THIS SECTION; AND 14
(2) SHALL AIM TO COMPLETE THE RECRUIT MENT FOR THE POSITION 15
WITHIN 40 DAYS. 16
(D) AN ELIGIBLE APPLICANT FOR THE PROGRAM SHALL BE AN I NDIVIDUAL 17
APPLYING FOR A VACAN T POSITION IN STATE GOVERNMENT WHO : 18
(1) SELF–CERTIFIES AND, ON REQUEST, PROVIDES DOCUMENTATI ON 19
THAT THE INDIVIDUAL : 20
(I) HAS SERVED IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNME NT IN ANY 21
CAPACITY, INCLUDING DURING A P ROBATIONARY PERIOD ; AND 22
(II) LEFT FEDERAL SERVICE AFTER JANUARY 15, 2025; AND 23
(2) HAS RELEVANT FEDERAL EXPERTISE OR EXPERIE NCE TO MEET 24
THE REQUIREMENTS , BASED ON THE POSITIO N DESCRIPTION, FOR THE VACANT 25
STATE POSITION. 26
(E) THE PROGRAM SHALL : 27
(1) DEVELOP GUIDANCE FOR APPOINTING AUTHORITI ES ON ALIGNING 28
JOB TITLES AND POSIT ION DESCRIPTIONS WIT H THE FEDERAL EQUIVA LENT 29
POSITIONS WITHOUT RE QUIRING SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES TO THE DESC RIPTIONS OR 30
CLASSIFICATIONS OF T HE POSITIONS; 31 12 HOUSE BILL 1424
(2) CONDUCT MARKETING AN D RECRUITMENT ACTIVI TIES TO 1
RECRUIT ELIGIBLE APP LICANTS FOR VACANT P OSITIONS; 2
(3) RATE THE QUALIFICATI ONS OF EACH APPLICAN T WHILE A VACANT 3
POSITION IS OPEN; 4
(4) COMMUNICATE WIT H APPLICANTS THROUGH OUT THE HIRING 5
PROCESS TO MAINTAIN THE APPLICANTS ’ INTEREST IN THE POSI TION; 6
(5) DEVELOP A PROCESS TO REFER APPLICANTS TO OTHER VACANT 7
POSITIONS IN STATE GOVERNMENT ; AND 8
(6) EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIE S TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM TO 9
SUPPORT HIRING BY INTERESTED COUNTY GOVERNMENTS . 10
(F) THE SECRETARY SHALL : 11
(1) IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM IN PHASES , WITH INITIAL FOCUS O N 12
CRITICAL AND HARD –TO–FILL POSITIONS, AS DETERMINED BY THE SECRETARY; 13
(2) ESTABLISH REASONABLE TIMELINES FOR EACH P HASE OF 14
IMPLEMENTATION ; AND 15
(3) ADOPT REGULATIONS TO : 16
(I) IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM; AND 17
(II) REVISE THE CONDITION S FOR ELIGIBILITY UN DER 18
SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION TO I NCLUDE REVIEW OF APP LICATIONS FROM 19
FORMER FEDERAL CONTR ACTORS. 20
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 21
as follows: 22
Article – Tax – General 23
13–203. 24
(c) Subject to subsections (f) and (g) of this section, tax information may be 25
disclosed to: 26
(17) the Maryland Cannabis Administration; [and] 27
HOUSE BILL 1424 13
(18) a person, governmental entity, or tax compliance organization for the 1
purpose of assisting the Comptroller in tax compliance activity; AND 2
(19) THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO THE EXTENT 3
NECESSARY TO : 4
(I) ADMINISTER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE 5
ASSISTANCE LOAN FUND UNDER § 7–327 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND 6
PROCUREMENT ARTICLE; OR 7
(II) DETECT AND PREVENT F RAUDULENT CLAIMS FOR RELIEF OR 8
AVOIDANCE OF REPAYME NT REQUIRED UNDER § 7–327 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND 9
PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. 10
SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 11
(a) The Maryland Department of Labor shall conduct research and analysis on 12
foreclosure activity in Maryland, particularly as it relates to federal workers, to include, to 13
the extent practicable, federal contractors impacted by layoffs since January 1, 2025. 14
(b) On or before December 31, 2025, the Maryland Department of Labor shall 15
report to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, 16
on any data findings or trend analysis as it relates to foreclosures in Maryland for this 17
worker population. 18
SECTION 2. 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 19
(a) Notwithstanding § 7–311(i) of the State Finance and Procurement Article, 20
after providing the Legislative Policy Committee with at least 7 days to review and 21
comment, the Governor may transfer up to $5,000,000 from the Revenue Stabilization 22
Account under § 7–311 of the State Finance and Procurement Article to the Federal 23
Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund under § 7–327 of the State Finance and 24
Procurement Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this Act. 25
(b) Notwithstanding § 7–311(i) of the State Finance and Procurement Article, 26
after providing the Legislative Policy Committee with at least 7 days to review and 27
comment, the Governor may transfer up to $1,500,000 from the Revenue Stabilization 28
Account under § 7–311 of the State Finance and Procurement Article to the expenditure 29
accounts of the Attorney General to fund costs associated with carrying out § 6–106.1 of the 30
State Government Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this Act. 31
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 32
1, 2025. 33
SECTION 3. 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency 34
measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, has 35 14 HOUSE BILL 1424
been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three–fifths of all the members elected to 1
each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is 2
enacted. Section 2 of this Act shall remain effective through June April 30, 2025 2026, and 3
at the end of June April 30, 2025 2026, Section 2 of this Act, with no further action required 4
by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no further force and effect. Section 5 of 5
this Act shall remain effective through June 30, 2025, and, at the end of June 30, 2025, 6
Section 5 of this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be 7
abrogated and of no further force and effect. 8
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.