| 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 | Underlining indicates amendments to bill. | |
| 6 | 6 | Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by | |
| 7 | 7 | amendment. | |
| 8 | - | Italics indicate opposite chamber/conference committee amendments. | |
| 9 | 8 | *hb1424* | |
| 10 | 9 | ||
| 11 | 10 | HOUSE BILL 1424 | |
| 12 | - | P1 EMERGENCY BILL (5lr1865) | |
| 13 | - | ENROLLED BILL | |
| 14 | - | — Appropriations/Budget and Taxation — | |
| 15 | - | Introduced by Delegates J. Lewis, Feldmark, Allen, Amprey, Behler, Boafo, Cardin, | |
| 11 | + | P1 EMERGENCY BILL 5lr1865 | |
| 12 | + | CF SB 683 | |
| 13 | + | By: Delegates J. Lewis, Feldmark, Allen, Amprey, Behler, Boafo, Cardin, | |
| 16 | 14 | Charkoudian, Clippinger, Fair, Foley, Guzzone, Harrison, Healey, Holmes, | |
| 17 | 15 | Ivey, D. Jones, Kaufman, Korman, R. Lewis, Mireku–North, Moon, | |
| 18 | 16 | Palakovich Carr, Pasteur, Pruski, Roberts, Simmons, Solomon, Spiegel, | |
| 19 | 17 | Stein, Stewart, Terrasa, Toles, Valderrama, Vogel, Wells, White Holland, | |
| 20 | 18 | Williams, Wolek, and Ziegler Ziegler, Barnes, Chang, Acevero, Edelson, | |
| 21 | 19 | Forbes, Harris, McCaskill, Ruff, Schindler, Shetty, and Watson | |
| 22 | - | ||
| 23 | - | Read and Examined by Proofreaders: | |
| 24 | - | ||
| 25 | - | _______________________________________________ | |
| 26 | - | Proofreader. | |
| 27 | - | _______________________________________________ | |
| 28 | - | Proofreader. | |
| 29 | - | ||
| 30 | - | Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this | |
| 31 | - | ||
| 32 | - | _______ day of _______________ at _________ _______________ o’clock, ________M. | |
| 33 | - | ||
| 34 | - | ______________________________________________ | |
| 35 | - | Speaker. | |
| 20 | + | Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2025 | |
| 21 | + | Assigned to: Appropriations | |
| 22 | + | Committee Report: Favorable with amendments | |
| 23 | + | House action: Adopted | |
| 24 | + | Read second time: February 26, 2025 | |
| 36 | 25 | ||
| 37 | 26 | CHAPTER ______ | |
| 38 | 27 | ||
| 39 | 28 | AN ACT concerning 1 | |
| 40 | 29 | ||
| 41 | 30 | Catastrophic Event Account and, Federal Government Shutdown Employee 2 | |
| 42 | 31 | Assistance Loan Fund, and Powers of the Attorney General – Alterations 3 | |
| 43 | - | Support and Protections for Individuals Affected by Federal Actions 4 | |
| 44 | - | (Protect Our Federal Workers Act) 5 | |
| 32 | + | (Protect Our Federal Workers Act) 4 | |
| 45 | 33 | ||
| 46 | - | FOR the purpose of renaming the Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance 6 | |
| 47 | - | Loan Fund to be the Federal Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund; 7 | |
| 48 | - | authorizing funds appropriated to the Catastrophic Event Account to be expended to 8 | |
| 49 | - | assist in funding costs in connection with a closure, relocation, or mass layoff of a 9 2 HOUSE BILL 1424 | |
| 34 | + | FOR the purpose of renaming the Federal Government Shutdown Employee Assistance 5 | |
| 35 | + | Loan Fund to be the Federal Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund; 6 | |
| 36 | + | authorizing funds appropriated to the Catastrophic Event Account to be expended to 7 | |
| 37 | + | assist in funding costs in connection with a closure, relocation, or mass layoff of a 8 | |
| 38 | + | unit of the federal government, or other similar circumstances; altering the purpose 9 | |
| 39 | + | of the Fund and the eligibility criteria to receive loans from the Fund; authorizing 10 | |
| 40 | + | the Maryland Department of Labor to forgive a loan from the Fund; expanding the 11 | |
| 41 | + | authority of the Attorney General to take certain actions under certain 12 | |
| 42 | + | circumstances; increasing the amount the Governor is required to appropriate in the 13 | |
| 43 | + | proposed budget each year to the Attorney General to be used for certain purposes; 14 | |
| 44 | + | altering a requirement that the Attorney General use a certain appropriation to 15 | |
| 45 | + | employ a certain number of attorneys; and generally relating to the Catastrophic 16 | |
| 46 | + | Event Account and, the Federal Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund, and 17 | |
| 47 | + | the powers of the Attorney General. 18 | |
| 48 | + | 2 HOUSE BILL 1424 | |
| 50 | 49 | ||
| 51 | 50 | ||
| 52 | - | unit of the federal government, or other similar circumstances; altering the purpose 1 | |
| 53 | - | of the Fund and the eligibility criteria to receive loans from the Fund; authorizing 2 | |
| 54 | - | the Maryland Department of Labor to disclose certain information to a third–party 3 | |
| 55 | - | vendor for a certain purpose and to forgive a loan from the Fund; expanding the 4 | |
| 56 | - | authority of the Attorney General to take certain actions under certain 5 | |
| 57 | - | circumstances; increasing the amount the Governor is required to appropriate in the 6 | |
| 58 | - | proposed budget each year to the Attorney General to be used for certain purposes; 7 | |
| 59 | - | altering a requirement that the Attorney General use a certain appropriation to 8 | |
| 60 | - | employ a certain number of attorneys; establishing the Expedited Hiring Program in 9 | |
| 61 | - | the Department of Budget and Management; authorizing an appointing authority to 10 | |
| 62 | - | recruit for certain vacant positions in State government under certain circumstances; 11 | |
| 63 | - | authorizing the Secretary of Budget and Management to contract with a certain entity 12 | |
| 64 | - | for a certain purpose; authorizing the disclosure of certain tax information to the 13 | |
| 65 | - | Maryland Department of Labor for certain purposes; requiring the Maryland 14 | |
| 66 | - | Department of Labor to conduct certain research and make a certain report; 15 | |
| 67 | - | authorizing the Governor to make certain transfers of funds subject to the review and 16 | |
| 68 | - | comment of the Legislative Policy Committee; and generally relating to the 17 | |
| 69 | - | Catastrophic Event Account and, the Federal Government Employee Assistance 18 | |
| 70 | - | Loan Fund, and the powers of the Attorney General, and the Expedited Hiring 19 | |
| 71 | - | Program and the Department of Budget and Management. 20 | |
| 51 | + | BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 1 | |
| 52 | + | Article – State Finance and Procurement 2 | |
| 53 | + | Section 6–226(a)(1) and (2)(i) 3 | |
| 54 | + | Annotated Code of Maryland 4 | |
| 55 | + | (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 5 | |
| 72 | 56 | ||
| 73 | - | BY repealing and reenacting, | |
| 74 | - | Article – State Finance and Procurement | |
| 75 | - | Section 6–226(a)( | |
| 76 | - | Annotated Code of Maryland | |
| 77 | - | (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) | |
| 57 | + | BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6 | |
| 58 | + | Article – State Finance and Procurement 7 | |
| 59 | + | Section 6–226(a)(2)(ii)118., 7–324, and 7–327 8 | |
| 60 | + | Annotated Code of Maryland 9 | |
| 61 | + | (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 10 | |
| 78 | 62 | ||
| 79 | - | BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, | |
| 80 | - | Article – State | |
| 81 | - | Section 6– | |
| 82 | - | Annotated Code of Maryland | |
| 83 | - | (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) | |
| 63 | + | BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11 | |
| 64 | + | Article – State Government 12 | |
| 65 | + | Section 6–106.1 13 | |
| 66 | + | Annotated Code of Maryland 14 | |
| 67 | + | (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 15 | |
| 84 | 68 | ||
| 85 | - | BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 31 | |
| 86 | - | Article – State Government 32 | |
| 87 | - | Section 6–106.1 33 | |
| 88 | - | Annotated Code of Maryland 34 | |
| 89 | - | (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 35 | |
| 69 | + | SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 16 | |
| 70 | + | That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 17 | |
| 90 | 71 | ||
| 91 | - | BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 36 | |
| 92 | - | Article – State Personnel and Pensions 37 | |
| 93 | - | Section 1–101(a), (b), (f), (j), (k), (m), and (p) 38 | |
| 94 | - | Annotated Code of Maryland 39 | |
| 95 | - | (2024 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 40 | |
| 72 | + | Article – State Finance and Procurement 18 | |
| 96 | 73 | ||
| 97 | - | BY adding to 41 | |
| 98 | - | Article – State Personnel and Pensions 42 HOUSE BILL 1424 3 | |
| 74 | + | 6–226. 19 | |
| 75 | + | ||
| 76 | + | (a) (1) Except as otherwise specifically provided by law or by regulation of the 20 | |
| 77 | + | Treasurer, the Treasurer shall credit to the General Fund any interest on or other income 21 | |
| 78 | + | from State money that the Treasurer invests. 22 | |
| 79 | + | ||
| 80 | + | (2) (i) 1. This subparagraph does not apply in fiscal years 2024 23 | |
| 81 | + | through 2028. 24 | |
| 82 | + | ||
| 83 | + | 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and unless 25 | |
| 84 | + | inconsistent with a federal law, grant agreement, or other federal requirement or with the 26 | |
| 85 | + | terms of a gift or settlement agreement, net interest on all State money allocated by the 27 | |
| 86 | + | State Treasurer under this section to special funds or accounts, and otherwise entitled to 28 | |
| 87 | + | receive interest earnings, as accounted for by the Comptroller, shall accrue to the General 29 | |
| 88 | + | Fund of the State. 30 | |
| 89 | + | ||
| 90 | + | (ii) The provisions of subparagraph (i) of this paragraph do not apply 31 | |
| 91 | + | to the following funds: 32 | |
| 92 | + | ||
| 93 | + | 118. the Federal Government [Shutdown] Employee 33 | |
| 94 | + | Assistance Loan Fund; 34 | |
| 95 | + | ||
| 96 | + | 7–324. 35 | |
| 97 | + | HOUSE BILL 1424 3 | |
| 99 | 98 | ||
| 100 | 99 | ||
| 101 | - | Section 7–201.1 1 | |
| 102 | - | Annotated Code of Maryland 2 | |
| 103 | - | (2024 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 3 | |
| 100 | + | (a) In this section, “Account” means the Catastrophic Event Account. 1 | |
| 104 | 101 | ||
| 105 | - | BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 4 | |
| 106 | - | Article – Tax – General 5 | |
| 107 | - | Section 13–203(c)(17) and (18) 6 | |
| 108 | - | Annotated Code of Maryland 7 | |
| 109 | - | (2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 8 | |
| 102 | + | (b) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Account is established to enable 2 | |
| 103 | + | the State or a local government to respond without undue delay to: 3 | |
| 110 | 104 | ||
| 111 | - | BY adding to 9 | |
| 112 | - | Article – Tax – General 10 | |
| 113 | - | Section 13–203(c)(19) 11 | |
| 114 | - | Annotated Code of Maryland 12 | |
| 115 | - | (2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13 | |
| 105 | + | (1) a natural disaster or other catastrophic situation[, or]; 4 | |
| 116 | 106 | ||
| 117 | - | SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14 | |
| 118 | - | That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15 | |
| 107 | + | (2) federal employee financial hardship from a full or partial federal 5 | |
| 108 | + | government shutdown due to a lapse in federal appropriations that cannot be taken care of 6 | |
| 109 | + | within the resources of existing appropriations; OR 7 | |
| 119 | 110 | ||
| 120 | - | Article – State Finance and Procurement 16 | |
| 111 | + | (3) FORMER FEDERAL EMPLO YEE FINANCIAL HARDSH IP FROM THE 8 | |
| 112 | + | CLOSURE, RELOCATION , OR MASS LAYOFF OF A UNIT OF THE FEDERAL 9 | |
| 113 | + | GOVERNMENT , OR OTHER SIMILAR CIR CUMSTANCES . 10 | |
| 121 | 114 | ||
| 122 | - | ||
| 115 | + | (c) The Governor may provide an appropriation in the budget bill to the Account. 11 | |
| 123 | 116 | ||
| 124 | - | (a) (1) Except as otherwise specifically provided by law or by regulation of the 18 | |
| 125 | - | Treasurer, the Treasurer shall credit to the General Fund any interest on or other income 19 | |
| 126 | - | from State money that the Treasurer invests. 20 | |
| 117 | + | (d) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, after a 15–day review and 12 | |
| 118 | + | comment period by the Legislative Policy Committee, the Governor may transfer funds by 13 | |
| 119 | + | budget amendment from the Account to the expenditure accounts of the appropriate unit 14 | |
| 120 | + | of State government or unit of local government. 15 | |
| 127 | 121 | ||
| 128 | - | (2) (i) 1. This subparagraph does not apply in fiscal years 2024 21 | |
| 129 | - | through 2028. 22 | |
| 122 | + | (2) If the federal government is in a full or partial shutdown due to a lapse 16 | |
| 123 | + | in appropriations, after a 2–day review and comment period by the Legislative Policy 17 | |
| 124 | + | Committee, the Governor may transfer funds by budget amendment from the Account to 18 | |
| 125 | + | the Federal Government [Shutdown] Employee Assistance Loan Fund established under § 19 | |
| 126 | + | 7–327 of this subtitle. 20 | |
| 130 | 127 | ||
| 131 | - | 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and unless 23 | |
| 132 | - | inconsistent with a federal law, grant agreement, or other federal requirement or with the 24 | |
| 133 | - | terms of a gift or settlement agreement, net interest on all State money allocated by the 25 | |
| 134 | - | State Treasurer under this section to special funds or accounts, and otherwise entitled to 26 | |
| 135 | - | receive interest earnings, as accounted for by the Comptroller, shall accrue to the General 27 | |
| 136 | - | Fund of the State. 28 | |
| 128 | + | (e) Funds appropriated to the Catastrophic Event Account: 21 | |
| 137 | 129 | ||
| 138 | - | ( | |
| 139 | - | ||
| 130 | + | (1) may not be used to offset operating deficiencies in regular programs of 22 | |
| 131 | + | State government; but 23 | |
| 140 | 132 | ||
| 141 | - | | |
| 142 | - | ||
| 133 | + | (2) may be expended to assist a unit of State government or unit of local 24 | |
| 134 | + | government in funding costs in connection with: 25 | |
| 143 | 135 | ||
| 144 | - | ||
| 136 | + | (I) a natural disaster[,]; 26 | |
| 145 | 137 | ||
| 146 | - | (a) In this section, “Account” means the Catastrophic Event Account. 34 | |
| 138 | + | (II) a catastrophic situation[, or]; 27 | |
| 139 | + | ||
| 140 | + | (III) a full or partial federal government shutdown due to a lapse in 28 | |
| 141 | + | appropriations; OR 29 | |
| 142 | + | ||
| 143 | + | (IV) A CLOSURE, RELOCATION , OR MASS LAYOFF OF A UNIT OF 30 | |
| 144 | + | THE FEDERAL GOVERNME NT. 31 | |
| 147 | 145 | 4 HOUSE BILL 1424 | |
| 148 | - | ||
| 149 | - | ||
| 150 | - | (b) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Account is established to enable 1 | |
| 151 | - | the State or a local government to respond without undue delay to: 2 | |
| 152 | - | ||
| 153 | - | (1) a natural disaster or other catastrophic situation[, or]; 3 | |
| 154 | - | ||
| 155 | - | (2) federal employee financial hardship from a full or partial federal 4 | |
| 156 | - | government shutdown due to a lapse in federal appropriations that cannot be taken care of 5 | |
| 157 | - | within the resources of existing appropriations; OR 6 | |
| 158 | - | ||
| 159 | - | (3) FORMER FEDERAL EMPLO YEE FINANCIAL HARDSH IP FROM THE 7 | |
| 160 | - | CLOSURE, RELOCATION , OR MASS LAYOFF OF A UNIT OF THE FEDERAL 8 | |
| 161 | - | GOVERNMENT , OR OTHER SIMILAR CIR CUMSTANCES . 9 | |
| 162 | - | ||
| 163 | - | (c) The Governor may provide an appropriation in the budget bill to the Account. 10 | |
| 164 | - | ||
| 165 | - | (d) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, after a 15–day review and 11 | |
| 166 | - | comment period by the Legislative Policy Committee, the Governor may transfer funds by 12 | |
| 167 | - | budget amendment from the Account to the expenditure accounts of the appropriate unit 13 | |
| 168 | - | of State government or unit of local government. 14 | |
| 169 | - | ||
| 170 | - | (2) If the federal government is in a full or partial shutdown due to a lapse 15 | |
| 171 | - | in appropriations, after a 2–day review and comment period by the Legislative Policy 16 | |
| 172 | - | Committee, the Governor may transfer funds by budget amendment from the Account to 17 | |
| 173 | - | the Federal Government [Shutdown] Employee Assistance Loan Fund established under § 18 | |
| 174 | - | 7–327 of this subtitle. 19 | |
| 175 | - | ||
| 176 | - | (e) Funds appropriated to the Catastrophic Event Account: 20 | |
| 177 | - | ||
| 178 | - | (1) may not be used to offset operating deficiencies in regular programs of 21 | |
| 179 | - | State government; but 22 | |
| 180 | - | ||
| 181 | - | (2) may be expended to assist a unit of State government or unit of local 23 | |
| 182 | - | government in funding costs in connection with: 24 | |
| 183 | - | ||
| 184 | - | (I) a natural disaster[,]; 25 | |
| 185 | - | ||
| 186 | - | (II) a catastrophic situation[, or]; 26 | |
| 187 | - | ||
| 188 | - | (III) a full or partial federal government shutdown due to a lapse in 27 | |
| 189 | - | appropriations; OR 28 | |
| 190 | - | ||
| 191 | - | (IV) A CLOSURE, RELOCATION, OR MASS LAYOFF OF A UNIT OF 29 | |
| 192 | - | THE FEDERAL GOVERNME NT. 30 | |
| 193 | - | HOUSE BILL 1424 5 | |
| 194 | 146 | ||
| 195 | 147 | ||
| 196 | 148 | (f) (1) The Account is a continuing, nonlapsing fund which is not subject to § 1 | |
| 197 | 149 | 7–302 of this subtitle. 2 | |
| 198 | 150 | ||
| 199 | 151 | (2) The Treasurer shall separately hold, and the Comptroller shall account 3 | |
| 200 | 152 | for, the Account. 4 | |
| 201 | 153 | ||
| 202 | 154 | (3) The Account shall be invested and reinvested in the same manner as 5 | |
| 203 | 155 | other State funds. 6 | |
| 204 | 156 | ||
| 205 | 157 | (4) Any investment earnings shall be subject to § 7–311(d) of this subtitle. 7 | |
| 206 | 158 | ||
| 207 | 159 | (g) Money appropriated to the Account does not rever t to the Revenue 8 | |
| 208 | 160 | Stabilization Account. 9 | |
| 209 | 161 | ||
| 210 | 162 | 7–327. 10 | |
| 211 | 163 | ||
| 212 | 164 | (a) In this section, “Fund” means the Federal Government [Shutdown] Employee 11 | |
| 213 | 165 | Assistance Loan Fund. 12 | |
| 214 | 166 | ||
| 215 | 167 | (b) There is a Federal Government [Shutdown] Employee Assistance Loan Fund. 13 | |
| 216 | 168 | ||
| 217 | 169 | (c) The purpose of the Fund is to provide loans to [employees of the federal 14 | |
| 218 | - | government] STATE RESIDENTS who [are] | |
| 170 | + | government] STATE RESIDENTS who [are]: 15 | |
| 219 | 171 | ||
| 220 | 172 | (1) [required to report to work at a work site located in the State; and 16 | |
| 221 | 173 | ||
| 222 | - | (2)] ARE EMPLOYEES OF THE | |
| 223 | - | ||
| 224 | - | ||
| 174 | + | (2)] ARE EMPLOYEES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT W HO ARE not 17 | |
| 175 | + | being paid because of a full or partial federal government shutdown due to a lapse in 18 | |
| 176 | + | appropriations; OR 19 | |
| 225 | 177 | ||
| 226 | - | (2) IN THE IMMEDIATELY P RECEDING 6 MONTHS, AND ON OR AFTER 20 | |
| 227 | - | JANUARY 1, 2025, WERE TERMINATED FR OM EMPLOYMENT BY THE FEDERAL 21 | |
| 228 | - | GOVERNMENT DUE TO TH E CLOSURE, RELOCATION , OR MASS LAYOFF OF A UNIT OF 22 | |
| 229 | - | THE FEDERAL GOVERNME NT, OR OTHER SIMILAR CIR CUMSTANCES BEYOND TH E 23 | |
| 230 | - | EMPLOYEES’ CONTROL, AND WHO ARE EXPERIEN CING FINANCIAL HARDS HIP AS 24 | |
| 231 | - | DETERMINED BY THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. 25 | |
| 178 | + | (2) IN THE IMMEDIATELY P RECEDING 6 MONTHS WERE TERMINAT ED 20 | |
| 179 | + | FROM EMPLOYMENT BY T HE FEDERAL GOVERNMEN T DUE TO THE CLOSURE , 21 | |
| 180 | + | RELOCATION , OR MASS LAYOFF OF A UNIT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNM ENT, OR 22 | |
| 181 | + | OTHER SIMILAR CIRCUM STANCES BEYOND THE E MPLOYEES’ CONTROL. 23 | |
| 232 | 182 | ||
| 233 | - | (d) The Maryland Department of Labor shall administer the Fund. | |
| 183 | + | (d) The Maryland Department of Labor shall administer the Fund. 24 | |
| 234 | 184 | ||
| 235 | - | (e) (1) The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of | |
| 236 | - | this subtitle that shall be available in perpetuity for the purpose of providing loans in | |
| 237 | - | accordance with the provisions of this section. | |
| 185 | + | (e) (1) The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of 25 | |
| 186 | + | this subtitle that shall be available in perpetuity for the purpose of providing loans in 26 | |
| 187 | + | accordance with the provisions of this section. 27 | |
| 238 | 188 | ||
| 239 | - | (2) The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the 30 | |
| 240 | - | Comptroller shall account for the Fund. 31 | |
| 241 | - | 6 HOUSE BILL 1424 | |
| 189 | + | (2) The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the 28 | |
| 190 | + | Comptroller shall account for the Fund. 29 | |
| 191 | + | ||
| 192 | + | (f) The Fund consists of: 30 | |
| 193 | + | HOUSE BILL 1424 5 | |
| 242 | 194 | ||
| 243 | 195 | ||
| 244 | - | (3) THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IS AUTHORIZED T O 1 | |
| 245 | - | DISCLOSE INFORMATION TO THIRD–PARTY VENDORS TO VERIFY FE DERAL 2 | |
| 246 | - | EMPLOYMENT FOR THE P URPOSE OF ASSISTING WITH THE IMPLEMENTAT ION OF THE 3 | |
| 247 | - | FUND, SUBJECT TO PRIVACY C ONSIDERATIONS . 4 | |
| 196 | + | (1) money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; 1 | |
| 248 | 197 | ||
| 249 | - | ( | |
| 198 | + | (2) any interest earnings of the Fund; 2 | |
| 250 | 199 | ||
| 251 | - | (1) money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; 6 | |
| 200 | + | (3) money transferred from the Catastrophic Event Account in accordance 3 | |
| 201 | + | with § 7–324 of this subtitle; 4 | |
| 252 | 202 | ||
| 253 | - | ( | |
| 203 | + | (4) repayments on loans made from the Fund; and 5 | |
| 254 | 204 | ||
| 255 | - | ( | |
| 256 | - | ||
| 205 | + | (5) any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the 6 | |
| 206 | + | Fund. 7 | |
| 257 | 207 | ||
| 258 | - | (4) repayments on loans made from the Fund; and 10 | |
| 208 | + | (g) The Fund shall be used only to provide no–interest loans to [employees of the 8 | |
| 209 | + | federal government] STATE RESIDENTS who [are]: 9 | |
| 259 | 210 | ||
| 260 | - | (5) any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the 11 | |
| 261 | - | Fund. 12 | |
| 211 | + | (1) [required to report to work at a work site located in the State; and 10 | |
| 262 | 212 | ||
| 263 | - | (g) The Fund shall be used only to provide no–interest loans to [employees of the 13 | |
| 264 | - | federal government] STATE RESIDENTS who [are] are: 14 | |
| 213 | + | (2)] ARE EMPLOYEES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT W HO ARE not 11 | |
| 214 | + | being paid because of a full or partial federal government shutdown due to a lapse in 12 | |
| 215 | + | appropriations; OR 13 | |
| 265 | 216 | ||
| 266 | - | (1) [required to report to work at a work site located in the State; and 15 | |
| 217 | + | (2) IN THE IMMEDIATELY P RECEDING 6 MONTHS WERE TERMINAT ED 14 | |
| 218 | + | FROM EMPLOYMENT BY THE FEDERAL GOVER NMENT DUE TO THE CLO SURE, 15 | |
| 219 | + | RELOCATION , OR MASS LAYOFF OF A UNIT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT , OR 16 | |
| 220 | + | OTHER SIMILAR CIRCUM STANCES BEYOND THE E MPLOYEES’ CONTROL. 17 | |
| 267 | 221 | ||
| 268 | - | (2)] ARE EMPLOYEES OF THE FED ERAL GOVERNMENT , REQUIRED TO 16 | |
| 269 | - | REPORT TO WORK, AND WHO ARE not being paid because of a full or partial federal 17 | |
| 270 | - | government shutdown due to a lapse in appropriations AFTER JANUARY 1, 2025; OR 18 | |
| 222 | + | (h) (1) The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same 18 | |
| 223 | + | manner as other State money may be invested. 19 | |
| 271 | 224 | ||
| 272 | - | (2) IN THE IMMEDIATELY P RECEDING 6 MONTHS, AND ON OR AFTER 19 | |
| 273 | - | JANUARY 1, 2025, WERE TERMINATED FROM EMPLOYMENT BY THE FE DERAL 20 | |
| 274 | - | GOVERNMENT DUE TO TH E CLOSURE, RELOCATION , OR MASS LAYOFF OF A UNIT OF 21 | |
| 275 | - | THE FEDERAL GOVERNME NT, OR OTHER SIMILAR CIR CUMSTANCES BEYOND TH E 22 | |
| 276 | - | EMPLOYEES’ CONTROL, AND WHO ARE EXPERIEN CING FINANCIAL HARDS HIP AS 23 | |
| 277 | - | DETERMINED BY THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. 24 | |
| 225 | + | (2) Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the Fund. 20 | |
| 278 | 226 | ||
| 279 | - | ( | |
| 280 | - | ||
| 227 | + | (i) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Maryland Department 21 | |
| 228 | + | of Labor shall establish procedures and eligibility criteria for loans from the Fund. 22 | |
| 281 | 229 | ||
| 282 | - | (2) | |
| 230 | + | (2) The eligibility criteria shall include that: 23 | |
| 283 | 231 | ||
| 284 | - | (i) | |
| 285 | - | ||
| 232 | + | (i) 1. the federal government is in a full or partial shutdown due 24 | |
| 233 | + | to a lapse in appropriations; OR 25 | |
| 286 | 234 | ||
| 287 | - | (2) The eligibility criteria shall include that: 30 | |
| 288 | - | HOUSE BILL 1424 7 | |
| 235 | + | 2. A UNIT OF THE FEDERA L GOVERNMENT HAS BEE N 26 | |
| 236 | + | CLOSED, BEEN RELOCATED , EXPERIENCED MASS LAYOFFS , OR EXPERIENCED 27 | |
| 237 | + | OTHER SIMILAR CIRCUM STANCES; and 28 | |
| 238 | + | ||
| 239 | + | (ii) an individual applying for a loan from the Fund is: 29 | |
| 240 | + | ||
| 241 | + | 1. A RESIDENT OF THE STATE; AND 30 6 HOUSE BILL 1424 | |
| 289 | 242 | ||
| 290 | 243 | ||
| 291 | - | (i) 1. the federal government is in a full or partial shutdown due 1 | |
| 292 | - | to a lapse in appropriations; OR 2 | |
| 293 | 244 | ||
| 294 | - | 2. A | |
| 295 | - | ||
| 296 | - | ||
| 245 | + | 2. A. an employee of the federal government WHO IS NOT 1 | |
| 246 | + | BEING PAID BECAUSE O F THE FULL OR PARTIAL FEDERAL G OVERNMENT SHUTDOWN 2 | |
| 247 | + | DUE TO THE LAPSE IN APPROPRIATIONS ; OR 3 | |
| 297 | 248 | ||
| 298 | - | | |
| 299 | - | ||
| 249 | + | [2. required to report to work at a work site located in the 4 | |
| 250 | + | State; and 5 | |
| 300 | 251 | ||
| 301 | - | 1. A RESIDENT OF THE STATE; AND 8 | |
| 252 | + | 3. not being paid because of the full or partial federal 6 | |
| 253 | + | government shutdown due to the lapse in appropriations] 7 | |
| 302 | 254 | ||
| 303 | - | 2. A. 1. an employee of the federal government WHO IS, 9 | |
| 304 | - | REQUIRED TO REPORT T O WORK, AND NOT BEING PAID BECAU SE OF THE FULL OR 10 | |
| 305 | - | PARTIAL FEDERAL GOVE RNMENT SHUTDOWN DUE TO THE LAPSE IN 11 | |
| 306 | - | APPROPRIATIONS AFTER JANUARY 1, 2025; OR 12 | |
| 255 | + | B. A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE FEDERAL 8 | |
| 256 | + | GOVERNMENT WHO , WITHIN THE 6 MONTHS IMMEDIATELY P RECEDING THE DATE OF 9 | |
| 257 | + | THE LOAN APPLICATION , WAS TERMINATED FROM EMPLOYMENT BY THE FE DERAL 10 | |
| 258 | + | GOVERNMENT DUE TO TH E CLOSURE, RELOCATION , OR MASS LAYOFF OF A UNIT OF 11 | |
| 259 | + | THE FEDERAL GOVERNME NT, OR OTHER SIMILAR CIR CUMSTANCES BEYOND TH E 12 | |
| 260 | + | INDIVIDUAL’S CONTROL. 13 | |
| 307 | 261 | ||
| 308 | - | [2. required to report to work at a work site located in the 13 | |
| 309 | - | State; and 14 | |
| 262 | + | (3) The procedures shall include: 14 | |
| 310 | 263 | ||
| 311 | - | 3. not being paid because of the full or partial federal 15 | |
| 312 | - | government shutdown due to the lapse in appropriations] 16 | |
| 264 | + | (i) application procedures; 15 | |
| 313 | 265 | ||
| 314 | - | B. 2. A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE FEDE RAL 17 | |
| 315 | - | GOVERNMENT WHO , WITHIN THE 6 MONTHS IMMEDIATELY P RECEDING THE DATE OF 18 | |
| 316 | - | THE LOAN APPLICATION , AND ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2025, WAS TERMINATED 19 | |
| 317 | - | FROM EMPLOYMENT BY T HE FEDERAL GOVERNMEN T DUE TO THE CLOSURE , 20 | |
| 318 | - | RELOCATION , OR MASS LAYOFF OF A UNIT OF THE FEDERA L GOVERNMENT , OR 21 | |
| 319 | - | OTHER SIMILAR CIRCUM STANCES BEYOND THE I NDIVIDUAL’S CONTROL, AND WHO 22 | |
| 320 | - | IS EXPERIENCING FINA NCIAL HARDSHIP AS DE TERMINED BY THE MARYLAND 23 | |
| 321 | - | DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. 24 | |
| 266 | + | (ii) payment procedures from the Fund; and 16 | |
| 322 | 267 | ||
| 323 | - | ( | |
| 324 | - | ||
| 268 | + | (iii) IF REPAYMENT IS REQU IRED, repayment procedures, including 17 | |
| 269 | + | timelines, for an individual to repay a loan from the Fund. 18 | |
| 325 | 270 | ||
| 326 | - | (3) (4) The procedures shall include: 27 | |
| 271 | + | (4) THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR MAY FORGIVE A L OAN 19 | |
| 272 | + | PROVIDED UNDER THIS SECTION. 20 | |
| 327 | 273 | ||
| 328 | - | ||
| 274 | + | Article – State Government 21 | |
| 329 | 275 | ||
| 330 | - | ||
| 276 | + | 6–106.1. 22 | |
| 331 | 277 | ||
| 332 | - | (iii) IF REPAYMENT IS REQUIRE D, repayment procedures, including 30 | |
| 333 | - | timelines, for an individual to repay a loan from the Fund. 31 | |
| 278 | + | (a) The General Assembly finds that: 23 | |
| 279 | + | ||
| 280 | + | (1) the federal government’s action or failure to take action may pose a 24 | |
| 281 | + | threat to the health and welfare of the residents of the State; and 25 | |
| 282 | + | ||
| 283 | + | (2) the State should investigate and obtain relief from any arbitrary, 26 | |
| 284 | + | unlawful, or unconstitutional federal action or inaction and prevent such action or inaction 27 | |
| 285 | + | from harming the residents of the State. 28 | |
| 286 | + | ||
| 287 | + | (b) (1) In addition to any other powers and duties and subject to the 29 | |
| 288 | + | requirements of this subsection, the Attorney General may investigate, commence, and 30 | |
| 289 | + | prosecute or defend any civil or criminal suit or action that is based on the federal 31 HOUSE BILL 1424 7 | |
| 290 | + | ||
| 291 | + | ||
| 292 | + | government’s action or inaction that threatens the public interest and welfare of the 1 | |
| 293 | + | residents of the State with respect to: 2 | |
| 294 | + | ||
| 295 | + | (i) protecting the health of the residents of the State and ensuring 3 | |
| 296 | + | the availability of affordable health care; 4 | |
| 297 | + | ||
| 298 | + | (ii) safeguarding public safety and security; 5 | |
| 299 | + | ||
| 300 | + | (iii) protecting civil liberties; 6 | |
| 301 | + | ||
| 302 | + | (iv) preserving and enhancing the economic security of workers and 7 | |
| 303 | + | retirees; 8 | |
| 304 | + | ||
| 305 | + | (v) protecting financial security of the residents of the State, 9 | |
| 306 | + | including their pensions, savings, and investments, and ensuring fairness in mortgages, 10 | |
| 307 | + | student loans, and the marketplace; 11 | |
| 308 | + | ||
| 309 | + | (vi) protecting the residents of the State against fraud and other 12 | |
| 310 | + | deceptive and predatory practices; 13 | |
| 311 | + | ||
| 312 | + | (vii) protecting the natural resources and environment of the State; 14 | |
| 313 | + | ||
| 314 | + | (viii) protecting the residents of the State against illegal and 15 | |
| 315 | + | unconstitutional federal immigration and travel restrictions; [or] 16 | |
| 316 | + | ||
| 317 | + | (IX) PROTECTING RESIDENTS OF THE STATE WHO ARE 17 | |
| 318 | + | EMPLOYEES OF THE FED ERAL GOVERNMENT WHO ARE NOT BEING PAID B ECAUSE OF 18 | |
| 319 | + | A FULL OR PARTIAL FE DERAL GOVERNMENT SHU TDOWN DUE TO A LAPSE IN 19 | |
| 320 | + | APPROPRIATIONS ; 20 | |
| 321 | + | ||
| 322 | + | (X) PROTECTING RESIDENTS OF THE STATE WHO WERE 21 | |
| 323 | + | EMPLOYEES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNME NT, AND ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2025: 22 | |
| 324 | + | ||
| 325 | + | 1. WERE TERMINATED FROM EMPLOYMENT BY THE 23 | |
| 326 | + | FEDERAL GOVERNMENT D UE TO THE CLOSURE , RELOCATION , OR MASS LAYOFF OF 24 | |
| 327 | + | A UNIT OF THE FEDERA L GOVERNMENT , OR OTHER SIMILAR CIR CUMSTANCES 25 | |
| 328 | + | BEYOND THE EMPLOYE ES’ CONTROL; OR 26 | |
| 329 | + | ||
| 330 | + | 2. SEPARATED FROM EMPLO YMENT BY THE FEDERAL 27 | |
| 331 | + | GOVERNMENT AS A RESU LT OF A VOLUNTARY SE PARATION INCENTIVE P AYMENT; OR 28 | |
| 332 | + | ||
| 333 | + | [(ix)] (XI) otherwise protecting, as parens patriae, the State’s 29 | |
| 334 | + | interest in the general health and well–being of its residents. 30 | |
| 334 | 335 | 8 HOUSE BILL 1424 | |
| 335 | 336 | ||
| 336 | 337 | ||
| 337 | - | (4) (5) THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR MAY FORGIVE A 1 | |
| 338 | - | LOAN PROVIDED UNDER THIS SECTION. 2 | |
| 338 | + | (2) Except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, before 1 | |
| 339 | + | commencing a suit or an action under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Attorney 2 | |
| 340 | + | General shall provide to the Governor: 3 | |
| 339 | 341 | ||
| 340 | - | ||
| 342 | + | (i) written notice of the intended suit or action; and 4 | |
| 341 | 343 | ||
| 342 | - | 6–106.1. 4 | |
| 344 | + | (ii) an opportunity to review and comment on the intended suit or 5 | |
| 345 | + | action. 6 | |
| 343 | 346 | ||
| 344 | - | (a) The General Assembly finds that: 5 | |
| 347 | + | (3) If the Governor objects to the intended suit or action for which notice 7 | |
| 348 | + | was provided under this subsection: 8 | |
| 345 | 349 | ||
| 346 | - | ( | |
| 347 | - | ||
| 350 | + | (i) the Governor shall provide in writing to the Attorney General the 9 | |
| 351 | + | reasons for the objection within 10 days after receiving the notice; and 10 | |
| 348 | 352 | ||
| 349 | - | ( | |
| 350 | - | ||
| 351 | - | ||
| 353 | + | (ii) except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, the 11 | |
| 354 | + | Attorney General shall consider the Governor’s objection before commencing the suit or 12 | |
| 355 | + | action. 13 | |
| 352 | 356 | ||
| 353 | - | (b) (1) In addition to any other powers and duties and subject to the 11 | |
| 354 | - | requirements of this subsection, the Attorney General may investigate, commence, and 12 | |
| 355 | - | prosecute or defend any civil or criminal suit or action that is based on the federal 13 | |
| 356 | - | government’s action or inaction that threatens the public interest and welfare of the 14 | |
| 357 | - | residents of the State with respect to: 15 | |
| 357 | + | (4) If the Attorney General determines that emergency circumstances 14 | |
| 358 | + | require the immediate commencement of a suit or an action under paragraph (1) of this 15 | |
| 359 | + | subsection, the Attorney General shall provide to the Governor notice of the suit or action 16 | |
| 360 | + | as soon as reasonably practicable. 17 | |
| 358 | 361 | ||
| 359 | - | (i) protecting the health of the residents of the State and ensuring 16 | |
| 360 | - | the availability of affordable health care; 17 | |
| 362 | + | (c) The Governor’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2019, and for each fiscal year 18 | |
| 363 | + | thereafter, shall appropriate at least [$1,000,000] $2,500,000 to the Attorney General to 19 | |
| 364 | + | be used only for: 20 | |
| 361 | 365 | ||
| 362 | - | ( | |
| 366 | + | (1) carrying out this section; and 21 | |
| 363 | 367 | ||
| 364 | - | ( | |
| 368 | + | (2) employing [five] attorneys in the Office of the Attorney General. 22 | |
| 365 | 369 | ||
| 366 | - | (iv) preserving and enhancing the economic security of workers and 20 | |
| 367 | - | retirees; 21 | |
| 370 | + | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 23 | |
| 368 | 371 | ||
| 369 | - | (v) protecting financial security of the residents of the State, 22 | |
| 370 | - | including their pensions, savings, and investments, and ensuring fairness in mortgages, 23 | |
| 371 | - | student loans, and the marketplace; 24 | |
| 372 | + | (a) Notwithstanding § 7–311(i) of the State Finance and Procurement Article, 24 | |
| 373 | + | after providing the Legislative Policy Committee with at least 7 days to review and 25 | |
| 374 | + | comment, the Governor may transfer up to $5,000,000 from the Revenue Stabilization 26 | |
| 375 | + | Account under § 7–311 of the State Finance and Procurement Article to the Federal 27 | |
| 376 | + | Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund under § 7–327 of the State Finance and 28 | |
| 377 | + | Procurement Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this Act. 29 | |
| 372 | 378 | ||
| 373 | - | (vi) protecting the residents of the State against fraud and other 25 | |
| 374 | - | deceptive and predatory practices; 26 | |
| 375 | - | ||
| 376 | - | (vii) protecting the natural resources and environment of the State; 27 | |
| 377 | - | ||
| 378 | - | (viii) protecting the residents of the State against illegal and 28 | |
| 379 | - | unconstitutional federal immigration and travel restrictions; [or] 29 | |
| 380 | - | ||
| 381 | - | (IX) PROTECTING RESIDENTS OF THE STATE WHO ARE 30 | |
| 382 | - | EMPLOYEES OF THE FED ERAL GOVERNMENT WHO ARE NOT BEING PAID B ECAUSE OF 31 HOUSE BILL 1424 9 | |
| 383 | - | ||
| 384 | - | ||
| 385 | - | A FULL OR PARTIAL FEDERAL GOVE RNMENT SHUTDOWN DUE TO A LAPSE IN 1 | |
| 386 | - | APPROPRIATIONS ; 2 | |
| 387 | - | ||
| 388 | - | (X) PROTECTING RESIDENTS OF THE STATE WHO WERE 3 | |
| 389 | - | EMPLOYEES OF THE FED ERAL GOVERNMENT , AND ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2025: 4 | |
| 390 | - | ||
| 391 | - | 1. WERE TERMINATED FROM EMPLOYMENT BY THE 5 | |
| 392 | - | FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DUE TO THE CLOSURE , RELOCATION , OR MASS LAYOFF OF 6 | |
| 393 | - | A UNIT OF THE FEDERA L GOVERNMENT , OR OTHER SIMILAR CIR CUMSTANCES 7 | |
| 394 | - | BEYOND THE EMPLOYEES ’ CONTROL; OR 8 | |
| 395 | - | ||
| 396 | - | 2. SEPARATED FROM EMPLO YMENT BY THE FEDERAL 9 | |
| 397 | - | GOVERNMENT AS A RESU LT OF A VOLUNTARY SE PARATION INCENTIV E PAYMENT; 10 | |
| 398 | - | ||
| 399 | - | (XI) PROTECTING RESIDENTS OF THE STATE WHO ARE 11 | |
| 400 | - | INAPPROPRIATELY DENI ED FEDERAL BENEFITS THAT THEY HAVE EARNE D, 12 | |
| 401 | - | INCLUDING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS , MEDICARE, AND VETERANS AFFAIRS 13 | |
| 402 | - | BENEFITS; 14 | |
| 403 | - | ||
| 404 | - | (XII) PROTECTING RESIDENTS OF THE STATE WHO ARE 15 | |
| 405 | - | INAPPROPRIATELY DENI ED FEDERAL ENTITLEME NTS, INCLUDING MEDICAID; OR 16 | |
| 406 | - | ||
| 407 | - | [(ix)] (XI) (XIII) otherwise protecting, as parens patriae, the State’s 17 | |
| 408 | - | interest in the general health and well–being of its residents. 18 | |
| 409 | - | ||
| 410 | - | (2) Except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, before 19 | |
| 411 | - | commencing a suit or an action under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Attorney 20 | |
| 412 | - | General shall provide to the Governor: 21 | |
| 413 | - | ||
| 414 | - | (i) written notice of the intended suit or action; and 22 | |
| 415 | - | ||
| 416 | - | (ii) an opportunity to review and comment on the intended suit or 23 | |
| 417 | - | action. 24 | |
| 418 | - | ||
| 419 | - | (3) If the Governor objects to the intended suit or action for which notice 25 | |
| 420 | - | was provided under this subsection: 26 | |
| 421 | - | ||
| 422 | - | (i) the Governor shall provide in writing to the Attorney General the 27 | |
| 423 | - | reasons for the objection within 10 days after receiving the notice; and 28 | |
| 424 | - | ||
| 425 | - | (ii) except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, the 29 | |
| 426 | - | Attorney General shall consider the Governor’s objection before commencing the suit or 30 | |
| 427 | - | action. 31 | |
| 428 | - | 10 HOUSE BILL 1424 | |
| 429 | - | ||
| 430 | - | ||
| 431 | - | (4) If the Attorney General determines that emergency circumstances 1 | |
| 432 | - | require the immediate commencement of a suit or an action under paragraph (1) of this 2 | |
| 433 | - | subsection, the Attorney General shall provide to the Governor notice of the suit or action 3 | |
| 434 | - | as soon as reasonably practicable. 4 | |
| 435 | - | ||
| 436 | - | (c) The Governor’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2019, and for each fiscal year 5 | |
| 437 | - | thereafter, shall appropriate at least [$1,000,000] $2,500,000 to the Attorney General to 6 | |
| 438 | - | be used only for: 7 | |
| 439 | - | ||
| 440 | - | (1) carrying out this section; and 8 | |
| 441 | - | ||
| 442 | - | (2) employing [five] attorneys in the Office of the Attorney General. 9 | |
| 443 | - | ||
| 444 | - | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 10 | |
| 445 | - | as follows: 11 | |
| 446 | - | ||
| 447 | - | Article – State Personnel and Pensions 12 | |
| 448 | - | ||
| 449 | - | 1–101. 13 | |
| 450 | - | ||
| 451 | - | (a) In this Division I of this article the following words have the meanings 14 | |
| 452 | - | indicated. 15 | |
| 453 | - | ||
| 454 | - | (b) “Appointing authority” means an individual or a unit of government that has 16 | |
| 455 | - | the power to make appointments and terminate employment. 17 | |
| 456 | - | ||
| 457 | - | (f) Unless expressly provided otherwise, “Department” means the Department of 18 | |
| 458 | - | Budget and Management. 19 | |
| 459 | - | ||
| 460 | - | (j) “Position” means an employment assignment of duties and responsibilities that 20 | |
| 461 | - | requires the full–time employment of one individual or less than full–time employment of 21 | |
| 462 | - | one or more individuals. 22 | |
| 463 | - | ||
| 464 | - | (k) “Principal unit” means: 23 | |
| 465 | - | ||
| 466 | - | (1) a principal department or other principal independent unit of State 24 | |
| 467 | - | government; or 25 | |
| 468 | - | ||
| 469 | - | (2) for an employee of a county board of elections whose employees are 26 | |
| 470 | - | covered by this article, the county board of elections. 27 | |
| 471 | - | ||
| 472 | - | (m) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Budget and Management. 28 | |
| 473 | - | ||
| 474 | - | (p) “State Personnel Management System” means the personnel system established 29 | |
| 475 | - | under § 6–101 of this article. 30 | |
| 476 | - | HOUSE BILL 1424 11 | |
| 477 | - | ||
| 478 | - | ||
| 479 | - | 7–201.1. 1 | |
| 480 | - | ||
| 481 | - | (A) IN THIS SECTION , “PROGRAM” MEANS THE EXPEDITED HIRING 2 | |
| 482 | - | PROGRAM IN THE DEPARTMENT . 3 | |
| 483 | - | ||
| 484 | - | (B) (1) THERE IS AN EXPEDITED HIRING PROGRAM IN THE DEPARTMENT 4 | |
| 485 | - | FOR THE PURPOSE OF H IRING ELIGIBLE APPLI CANTS FOR VACANT POS ITIONS IN THE 5 | |
| 486 | - | STATE PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SUBJECT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF 6 | |
| 487 | - | THIS SECTION. 7 | |
| 488 | - | ||
| 489 | - | (2) SUBJECT TO THE AVAILA BILITY OF FUNDS, THE SECRETARY MAY 8 | |
| 490 | - | CONTRACT WITH ANOTHE R ENTITY TO ASSIST WITH THE I MPLEMENTATION OF THE 9 | |
| 491 | - | PROGRAM. 10 | |
| 492 | - | ||
| 493 | - | (C) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY O THER PROVISION OF TH IS SUBTITLE, AN 11 | |
| 494 | - | APPOINTING AUTHORITY : 12 | |
| 495 | - | ||
| 496 | - | (1) MAY RECRUIT FOR A VA CANT POSITION IN ACC ORDANCE WITH 13 | |
| 497 | - | THIS SECTION; AND 14 | |
| 498 | - | ||
| 499 | - | (2) SHALL AIM TO COMPLETE THE RECRUIT MENT FOR THE POSITION 15 | |
| 500 | - | WITHIN 40 DAYS. 16 | |
| 501 | - | ||
| 502 | - | (D) AN ELIGIBLE APPLICANT FOR THE PROGRAM SHALL BE AN I NDIVIDUAL 17 | |
| 503 | - | APPLYING FOR A VACAN T POSITION IN STATE GOVERNMENT WHO : 18 | |
| 504 | - | ||
| 505 | - | (1) SELF–CERTIFIES AND, ON REQUEST, PROVIDES DOCUMENTATI ON 19 | |
| 506 | - | THAT THE INDIVIDUAL : 20 | |
| 507 | - | ||
| 508 | - | (I) HAS SERVED IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNME NT IN ANY 21 | |
| 509 | - | CAPACITY, INCLUDING DURING A P ROBATIONARY PERIOD ; AND 22 | |
| 510 | - | ||
| 511 | - | (II) LEFT FEDERAL SERVICE AFTER JANUARY 15, 2025; AND 23 | |
| 512 | - | ||
| 513 | - | (2) HAS RELEVANT FEDERAL EXPERTISE OR EXPERIE NCE TO MEET 24 | |
| 514 | - | THE REQUIREMENTS , BASED ON THE POSITIO N DESCRIPTION, FOR THE VACANT 25 | |
| 515 | - | STATE POSITION. 26 | |
| 516 | - | ||
| 517 | - | (E) THE PROGRAM SHALL : 27 | |
| 518 | - | ||
| 519 | - | (1) DEVELOP GUIDANCE FOR APPOINTING AUTHORITI ES ON ALIGNING 28 | |
| 520 | - | JOB TITLES AND POSIT ION DESCRIPTIONS WIT H THE FEDERAL EQUIVA LENT 29 | |
| 521 | - | POSITIONS WITHOUT RE QUIRING SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES TO THE DESC RIPTIONS OR 30 | |
| 522 | - | CLASSIFICATIONS OF T HE POSITIONS; 31 12 HOUSE BILL 1424 | |
| 379 | + | (b) Notwithstanding § 7–311(i) of the State Finance and Procurement Article, 30 | |
| 380 | + | after providing the Legislative Policy Committee with at least 7 days to review and 31 | |
| 381 | + | comment, the Governor may transfer up to $1,500,000 from the Revenue Stabilization 32 | |
| 382 | + | Account under § 7–311 of the State Finance and Procurement Article to the expenditure 33 | |
| 383 | + | accounts of the Attorney General to fund costs associated with carrying out § 6–106.1 of the 34 | |
| 384 | + | State Government Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this Act. 35 HOUSE BILL 1424 9 | |
| 523 | 385 | ||
| 524 | 386 | ||
| 525 | 387 | ||
| 526 | - | | |
| 527 | - | ||
| 388 | + | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 1 | |
| 389 | + | 1, 2025. 2 | |
| 528 | 390 | ||
| 529 | - | (3) RATE THE QUALIFICATI ONS OF EACH APPLICAN T WHILE A VACANT 3 | |
| 530 | - | POSITION IS OPEN; 4 | |
| 391 | + | SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency 3 | |
| 392 | + | measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, has 4 | |
| 393 | + | been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three–fifths of all the members elected to 5 | |
| 394 | + | each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is 6 | |
| 395 | + | enacted. Section 2 of this Act shall remain effective through June 30, 2025, and at the end 7 | |
| 396 | + | of June 30, 2025, Section 2 of this Act, with no further action required by the General 8 | |
| 397 | + | Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no further force and effect. 9 | |
| 531 | 398 | ||
| 532 | - | (4) COMMUNICATE WIT H APPLICANTS THROUGH OUT THE HIRING 5 | |
| 533 | - | PROCESS TO MAINTAIN THE APPLICANTS ’ INTEREST IN THE POSI TION; 6 | |
| 534 | - | ||
| 535 | - | (5) DEVELOP A PROCESS TO REFER APPLICANTS TO OTHER VACANT 7 | |
| 536 | - | POSITIONS IN STATE GOVERNMENT ; AND 8 | |
| 537 | - | ||
| 538 | - | (6) EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIE S TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM TO 9 | |
| 539 | - | SUPPORT HIRING BY INTERESTED COUNTY GOVERNMENTS . 10 | |
| 540 | - | ||
| 541 | - | (F) THE SECRETARY SHALL : 11 | |
| 542 | - | ||
| 543 | - | (1) IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM IN PHASES , WITH INITIAL FOCUS O N 12 | |
| 544 | - | CRITICAL AND HARD –TO–FILL POSITIONS, AS DETERMINED BY THE SECRETARY; 13 | |
| 545 | - | ||
| 546 | - | (2) ESTABLISH REASONABLE TIMELINES FOR EACH P HASE OF 14 | |
| 547 | - | IMPLEMENTATION ; AND 15 | |
| 548 | - | ||
| 549 | - | (3) ADOPT REGULATIONS TO : 16 | |
| 550 | - | ||
| 551 | - | (I) IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM; AND 17 | |
| 552 | - | ||
| 553 | - | (II) REVISE THE CONDITION S FOR ELIGIBILITY UN DER 18 | |
| 554 | - | SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION TO I NCLUDE REVIEW OF APP LICATIONS FROM 19 | |
| 555 | - | FORMER FEDERAL CONTR ACTORS. 20 | |
| 556 | - | ||
| 557 | - | SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 21 | |
| 558 | - | as follows: 22 | |
| 559 | - | ||
| 560 | - | Article – Tax – General 23 | |
| 561 | - | ||
| 562 | - | 13–203. 24 | |
| 563 | - | ||
| 564 | - | (c) Subject to subsections (f) and (g) of this section, tax information may be 25 | |
| 565 | - | disclosed to: 26 | |
| 566 | - | ||
| 567 | - | (17) the Maryland Cannabis Administration; [and] 27 | |
| 568 | - | HOUSE BILL 1424 13 | |
| 569 | - | ||
| 570 | - | ||
| 571 | - | (18) a person, governmental entity, or tax compliance organization for the 1 | |
| 572 | - | purpose of assisting the Comptroller in tax compliance activity; AND 2 | |
| 573 | - | ||
| 574 | - | (19) THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO THE EXTENT 3 | |
| 575 | - | NECESSARY TO : 4 | |
| 576 | - | ||
| 577 | - | (I) ADMINISTER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE 5 | |
| 578 | - | ASSISTANCE LOAN FUND UNDER § 7–327 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND 6 | |
| 579 | - | PROCUREMENT ARTICLE; OR 7 | |
| 580 | - | ||
| 581 | - | (II) DETECT AND PREVENT F RAUDULENT CLAIMS FOR RELIEF OR 8 | |
| 582 | - | AVOIDANCE OF REPAYME NT REQUIRED UNDER § 7–327 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND 9 | |
| 583 | - | PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. 10 | |
| 584 | - | ||
| 585 | - | SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 11 | |
| 586 | - | ||
| 587 | - | (a) The Maryland Department of Labor shall conduct research and analysis on 12 | |
| 588 | - | foreclosure activity in Maryland, particularly as it relates to federal workers, to include, to 13 | |
| 589 | - | the extent practicable, federal contractors impacted by layoffs since January 1, 2025. 14 | |
| 590 | - | ||
| 591 | - | (b) On or before December 31, 2025, the Maryland Department of Labor shall 15 | |
| 592 | - | report to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, 16 | |
| 593 | - | on any data findings or trend analysis as it relates to foreclosures in Maryland for this 17 | |
| 594 | - | worker population. 18 | |
| 595 | - | ||
| 596 | - | SECTION 2. 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 19 | |
| 597 | - | ||
| 598 | - | (a) Notwithstanding § 7–311(i) of the State Finance and Procurement Article, 20 | |
| 599 | - | after providing the Legislative Policy Committee with at least 7 days to review and 21 | |
| 600 | - | comment, the Governor may transfer up to $5,000,000 from the Revenue Stabilization 22 | |
| 601 | - | Account under § 7–311 of the State Finance and Procurement Article to the Federal 23 | |
| 602 | - | Government Employee Assistance Loan Fund under § 7–327 of the State Finance and 24 | |
| 603 | - | Procurement Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this Act. 25 | |
| 604 | - | ||
| 605 | - | (b) Notwithstanding § 7–311(i) of the State Finance and Procurement Article, 26 | |
| 606 | - | after providing the Legislative Policy Committee with at least 7 days to review and 27 | |
| 607 | - | comment, the Governor may transfer up to $1,500,000 from the Revenue Stabilization 28 | |
| 608 | - | Account under § 7–311 of the State Finance and Procurement Article to the expenditure 29 | |
| 609 | - | accounts of the Attorney General to fund costs associated with carrying out § 6–106.1 of the 30 | |
| 610 | - | State Government Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this Act. 31 | |
| 611 | - | ||
| 612 | - | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 32 | |
| 613 | - | 1, 2025. 33 | |
| 614 | - | ||
| 615 | - | SECTION 3. 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency 34 | |
| 616 | - | measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, has 35 14 HOUSE BILL 1424 | |
| 617 | - | ||
| 618 | - | ||
| 619 | - | been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three–fifths of all the members elected to 1 | |
| 620 | - | each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is 2 | |
| 621 | - | enacted. Section 2 of this Act shall remain effective through June April 30, 2025 2026, and 3 | |
| 622 | - | at the end of June April 30, 2025 2026, Section 2 of this Act, with no further action required 4 | |
| 623 | - | by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no further force and effect. Section 5 of 5 | |
| 624 | - | this Act shall remain effective through June 30, 2025, and, at the end of June 30, 2025, 6 | |
| 625 | - | Section 5 of this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be 7 | |
| 626 | - | abrogated and of no further force and effect. 8 | |
| 627 | 399 | ||
| 628 | 400 | ||
| 629 | 401 | ||
| 630 | 402 | Approved: | |
| 631 | 403 | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 632 | 404 | Governor. | |
| 633 | 405 | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 634 | 406 | Speaker of the House of Delegates. | |
| 635 | 407 | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 636 | 408 | President of the Senate. |