EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1503*
HOUSE BILL 1503
P4 5lr0459
By: Chair, Appropriations Committee (By Request – Departmental – Budget and
Management)
Introduced and read first time: February 14, 2025
Assigned to: Rules and Executive Nominations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
State Personnel – Paid Family and Medical Leave 2
FOR the purpose of requiring the Secretary of Budget and Management to adopt 3
regulations governing certain paid family and medical leave benefits for Executive 4
Branch employees; establishing certain parameters for the paid family and medical 5
leave; authorizing Executive Branch employees to submit a request for paid family 6
and medical leave beginning on a certain date; repealing certain provisions of law 7
regarding parental leave with pay for Executive Branch employees; and generally 8
relating to paid family and medical leave benefits for Executive Branch employees. 9
BY adding to 10
Article – State Personnel and Pensions 11
Section 9–1001 through 9–1005 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 14
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
Article – State Personnel and Pensions 16
Section 9–1001 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 19
BY repealing 20
Article – State Personnel and Pensions 21
Section 9–1108 22
Annotated Code of Maryland 23
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 24
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF M ARYLAND, 25
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 26 2 HOUSE BILL 1503
Article – State Personnel and Pensions 1
9–1001. 2
(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 3
INDICATED. 4
(B) “APPLICATION YEAR ” MEANS THE 12–MONTH PERIOD BEGINNI NG ON 5
THE SUNDAY OF THE CALENDA R WEEK FOR WHICH PAID FAMILY AND MEDI CAL 6
LEAVE IS APPROVED. 7
(C) “DEPLOYMENT ” MEANS A SERVICE MEMB ER ACTING UNDER OFFI CIAL 8
ORDERS WHO , ON ANY DAY, IS PERFORMING SERVIC E IN A TRAINING EXERCISE OR 9
OPERATION AT A LOCAT ION OR UNDER CIRCUMS TANCES THAT MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE 10
OR INFEASIBLE FOR TH E SERVICE MEMBER TO SPEND OFF–DUTY TIME IN THE 11
HOUSING IN WHICH THE SERVICE MEMBER RESID ES WHEN ON GARRISON DUTY AT 12
THE SERVICE MEMBER ’S PERMANENT DUTY STATION OR HOME PORT. 13
(D) “FAMILY MEMBER ” MEANS: 14
(1) A BIOLOGICAL CHILD , AN ADOPTED CHILD , A FOSTER CHILD, OR A 15
STEPCHILD OF THE EMPLOYEE ; 16
(2) A CHILD FOR WHOM THE EMPLOYEE HAS LEGAL O R PHYSICAL 17
CUSTODY OR GUARDIANS HIP; 18
(3) A CHILD FOR WHOM THE EMPLOYEE ST ANDS IN LOCO PARENTI S, 19
REGARDLESS OF THE CH ILD’S AGE; 20
(4) A BIOLOGICAL PARENT , AN ADOPTIVE PARENT , A FOSTER PARENT , 21
OR A STEPPARENT OF THE EM PLOYEE OR OF THE EMP LOYEE’S SPOUSE; 22
(5) THE LEGAL GUARDIAN O F THE EMPLOYEE OR TH E WARD OF THE 23
EMPLOYEE OR OF THE E MPLOYEE’S SPOUSE; 24
(6) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO AC TED AS A PARENT OR S TOOD IN LOCO 25
PARENTIS TO THE EMPL OYEE OR THE EMPLOYEE ’S SPOUSE WHEN THE EM PLOYEE 26
OR THE EMPLOYEE ’S SPOUSE WAS A MINOR ; 27
(7) THE SPOUSE OF THE EM PLOYEE; 28
(8) A DOMESTIC PARTNER OF THE EMPLOYEE ; 29
HOUSE BILL 1503 3
(9) A BIOLOGICAL GRANDPA RENT, AN ADOPTIVE GRANDPARENT , A 1
FOSTER GRANDPARENT , OR A STEPGRANDPARENT OF THE EMPLOYEE ; 2
(10) A BIOLOGICAL GRANDCH ILD, AN ADOPTED GRANDCHIL D, A 3
FOSTER GRANDCHILD , OR A STEPGRANDCHILD OF THE EMPLOYEE; OR 4
(11) A BIOLOGICAL SIBLING , AN ADOPTED SIBLING , A FOSTER SIBLING, 5
OR A STEPSIBLING OF THE E MPLOYEE. 6
(E) “PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE” MEANS LEAVE FROM WORK TAKEN 7
UNDER § 9–1004(A)(1) OF THIS SUBTITLE THAT IS PAID AT THE EMPLOYEE’S 8
REGULAR RATE OF PAY. 9
(F) “QUALIFYING EXIGENCY ” MEANS ANY OF THE FOL LOWING REASONS 10
FOR WHICH LEAVE MAY BE NEEDED BY A FAMIL Y MEMBER OF A SERVIC E MEMBER: 11
(1) THE SERVICE MEMBER H AS RECEIVED NOTICE O F DEPLOYMENT 12
WITHIN 7 DAYS BEFORE THE DEPL OYMENT IS TO BEGIN ; 13
(2) TO ATTEND MILITARY E VENTS AND RELATED AC TIVITIES 14
INCLUDING FAMILY SUP PORT PROGRAMS RELATE D TO THE ACTIVE DUTY OF THE 15
SERVICE MEMBER ; 16
(3) TO ARRANGE , PROVIDE, OR ATTEND CHILD CARE OR SCHOOL 17
ACTIVITIES ONLY W HEN THE SERVICE MEMB ER IS ON ACTIVE DUTY CALL OR ACTIVE 18
DUTY STATUS; 19
(4) TO MAKE FINANCIAL AN D LEGAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 20
SERVICE MEMBER ’S ABSENCE OR BECAUSE OF THE ABSENCE ; 21
(5) TO ATTEND COUNSELING THAT: 22
(I) IS NEEDED DUE TO THE ACTIVE DUTY OR C ALL TO ACTIVE 23
DUTY STATUS OF THE S ERVICE MEMBER ; AND 24
(II) IS PROVIDED BY AN IN DIVIDUAL WHO IS NOT A LICENSED 25
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER ; 26
(6) TO SPEND UP TO 15 CALENDAR DAYS WITH A SERVICE MEMBER 27
WHO IS ON SHORT –TERM TEMPORARY REST AND RECUPERATION LEA VE DURING 28
THE PERIOD OF DEPLOY MENT; 29
4 HOUSE BILL 1503
(7) TO ATTEND POSTDEPLOY MENT ACTIVITIES INCL UDING 1
REINTEGRATION SERVIC ES FOR A PERIOD OF 90 DAYS IMMEDIATELY FOL LOWING 2
THE TERMINATION OF A CTIVE STATUS; 3
(8) TO ATTEND TO MATTERS RELATED TO THE DEATH OF THE 4
SERVICE MEMB ER WHILE ON ACTIVE D UTY STATUS; 5
(9) TO ARRANGE FOR OR PR OVIDE ALTERNATIVE CA RE FOR A PARENT 6
OF THE SERVICE MEMBE R WHEN THE PARENT IS INCAPABLE OF SELF –CARE AND THE 7
COVERED ACTIVE DUTY OR CALL TO ACTIVE DU TY NECESSITATES A CH ANGE; OR 8
(10) ANY OTHER ISSUES THAT ARISE OU T OF ACTIVE DUTY OR A CALL 9
TO ACTIVE DUTY THAT AN APPOINTING AUTHOR ITY AND EMPLOYEE AGR EE SHOULD 10
BE COVERED. 11
(G) (1) “SERIOUS HEALTH CONDIT ION” MEANS AN ILLNESS , AN INJURY, 12
AN IMPAIRMENT , OR A PHYSICAL OR MEN TAL CONDITION THAT INVOLVES: 13
(I) INPATIENT CARE IN A HOSPITAL, HOSPICE, OR RESIDENTIAL 14
HEALTH CARE FACILITY ; 15
(II) CONTINUED TREATMENT BY A LICENSED HEALTH CARE 16
PROVIDER; OR 17
(III) CONTINUED TREATMENT OR SUPERVISION AT HO ME BY A 18
LICENSED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER OR OTHER COMPETENT INDI VIDUAL UNDER 19
THE SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. 20
(2) “SERIOUS HEALTH CONDIT ION” INCLUDES AN ILLNESS , AN 21
INJURY, AN IMPAIRMENT , OR A PHYSICAL OR MEN TAL CONDITION DESCRI BED IN 22
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION T HAT CONTI NUES OVER AN EXTENDE D 23
PERIOD OF TIME AND R EQUIRES INTERMITTENT TREATMENT . 24
(H) “SERVICE MEMBER ” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS AN ACTIVE DUT Y OR 25
FORMER MEMBER OF : 26
(1) THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES ; 27
(2) A RESERVE COMPONENT OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES; 28
OR 29
(3) THE NATIONAL GUARD OF ANY STATE . 30
HOUSE BILL 1503 5
(I) “TREATMENT” INCLUDES: 1
(1) EXAMINATIONS OR TEST ING TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT TO 2
WHICH A SERIOUS HEAL TH CONDITION EXISTS OR PERSISTS; 3
(2) ONGOING OR PERIODIC EVALUATIONS OF THE S ERIOUS HEALTH 4
CONDITION; AND 5
(3) ACTUAL TREATMENT BY A HEALTH CARE PROVID ER. 6
9–1002. 7
THIS SUBTITLE APPLIES TO ALL EMPLOYEES , INCLUDING TEMPORARY 8
EMPLOYEES, OF ALL UNITS IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF STATE GOVERNMENT 9
ONLY, INCLUDING ANY UNIT W ITH AN INDEPENDENT P ERSONNEL SYSTEM. 10
9–1003. 11
(A) THE SECRETARY SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS GOVERNIN G PAID 12
FAMILY AND MEDICAL L EAVE BENEFITS UNDER THIS SUBTITLE , INCLUDING 13
REGULATIONS THAT EST ABLISH CONDITIONS AN D PROCEDURES FOR REQ UESTING 14
AND APPROVING PAID F AMILY AND MEDICAL LE AVE TO THE EXTENT THAT T HE 15
REGULATIONS DO NOT C ONFLICT WITH THIS SU BTITLE. 16
(B) THE SECRETARY MAY DELEGAT E TO AN EMPLOYEE OF THE 17
DEPARTMENT OR AN APPO INTING AUTHORITY ANY POWER OR DUTY THAT I S 18
REASONABLE AND PROPE R FOR THE ADMINISTRA TION OF THIS TITLE. 19
(C) IF AN EMPLOYEE TAKES LEAVE FROM WORK UNDER THIS SUBTITLE , THE 20
APPOINTING AUTHORITY , ON THE EXPIRATION OF THE LEAVE, SHALL RESTORE THE 21
EMPLOYEE TO THE SAME OR AN EQ UIVALENT POSITION OF EMPLOYMENT . 22
(D) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL FILE QUARTERLY INFOR MATIONAL WAGE 23
AND HOUR REPORTS WIT H THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR THAT PROVIDE 24
THE AMOUNT OF WAGES AND HOURS WORKED FOR EACH EMPLOYEE FOR EA CH WEEK 25
IN THE IMMEDIATELY P RECEDING CALENDAR QUARTER. 26
9–1004. 27
(A) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , BEGINNING 28
JULY 1, 2026, AN EMPLOYEE MAY SUBM IT A REQUEST TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR 29
PAID FAMILY AND MEDI CAL LEAVE: 30
6 HOUSE BILL 1503
(I) 1. TO CARE FOR A NEWBOR N CHILD OF THE EMPLO YEE 1
DURING THE FIRST YEA R AFTER THE CHILD ’S BIRTH; OR 2
2. BECAUSE A CHILD IS B EING PLACED FOR ADOP TION, 3
FOSTER CARE , OR KINSHIP CARE WITH THE EMPLOYEE OR TO C ARE FOR OR BOND 4
WITH THE CHILD DURIN G THE FIRST YEAR AFT ER THE PLACEMENT ; 5
(II) TO CARE FOR A FAMILY MEMBER WITH A SERIOU S HEALTH 6
CONDITION; 7
(III) TO ATTEND TO A SERIO US HEALTH CONDITION THAT 8
RESULTS IN THE EMPLO YEE BEING UNABLE TO PERFORM THE FUNCTION S OF THE 9
EMPLOYEE’S POSITION; 10
(IV) TO CARE FOR A SERVIC E MEMBER WITH A SERI OUS HEALTH 11
CONDITION RESULTING FROM MILITARY SERVIC E FOR WHOM THE EMPLOYEE IS 12
NEXT OF KIN; OR 13
(V) TO ATTEND TO A QUALI FYING EXIGENCY ARISI NG OUT OF 14
THE DEPLOYMENT OF A SERVICE MEMBER WHO I S A FAMILY MEMBER OF THE 15
EMPLOYEE. 16
(2) (I) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED UN DER SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS 17
PARAGRAPH , IF THE NEED TO USE LEAVE IS FORESEEABLE , AN APPOINTING 18
AUTHORITY MAY REQUIR E AN EMPLOYEE TAKING LEAVE UNDER THIS SUB TITLE TO 19
PROVIDE THE APPOINTI NG AUTHORITY WITH WR ITTEN NOTICE OF THE EMPLOYEE’S 20
INTENTION TO TAKE LE AVE AT LEAST 30 DAYS BEFORE COMMENCI NG THE LEAVE. 21
(II) IF THE NEED TO USE LE AVE IS NOT FORESEEAB LE, THE 22
EMPLOYEE SHALL : 23
1. PROVIDE NOTICE TO TH E APPOINTING AUTHORI TY AS 24
SOON AS PRACTICABLE ; AND 25
2. GENERALLY COMPLY WIT H THE APPOINTING 26
AUTHORITY’S NOTICE OR PROCEDUR AL REQUIREMENTS FOR REQUESTING OR 27
REPORTING OTHER LEAVE IF THOSE REQUIREMENT S DO NOT INTERFERE W ITH THE 28
EMPLOYEE’S ABILITY TO USE LEA VE UNDER THIS SUBTIT LE. 29
(B) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION , AN 30
INDIVIDUAL MAY FILE AN APPLICATION FOR L EAVE WITHIN 60 DAYS BEFORE THE 31
ANTICIPATED START DATE OF THE LEAVE BUT NOT LA TER THAN 60 DAYS AFTER THE 32
START DATE OF THE LE AVE. 33 HOUSE BILL 1503 7
(2) TO BE CONSIDERED COMP LETE, AN APPLICATION SHALL CONTAIN 1
ALL INFORMATION REQU IRED BY THE DEPARTMENT . 2
(3) (I) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL WAIV E THE FILING DEADLIN E 3
ESTABLISHED UNDER PA RAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION F OR GOOD CAUSE . 4
(II) IF THE EMPLOYEE DOES NOT HAVE GOOD CAUSE FOR THE 5
DELAY IN COMPLETING THE APPLICATION , THE SECRETARY MAY DENY LE AVE 6
UNDER THIS SUBTITLE . 7
(C) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPHS (2) AND (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION , AN 8
EMPLOYEE MAY TAKE TH E LEAVE FOR WHICH TH E INDIVIDUAL IS ELIG IBLE UNDER 9
SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION ON A N INTERMITTENT LEAVE SCHEDULE. 10
(2) IF LEAVE IS TAKEN ON AN INTERMITTENT LEAV E SCHEDULE, THE 11
EMPLOYEE SHALL : 12
(I) MAKE A REASONABLE EFFORT TO SCHEDULE THE 13
INTERMITTENT LEAVE I N A MANNER THAT DOES NOT UNDULY DISRUPT 14
OPERATIONS; AND 15
(II) PROVIDE THE APPOINTI NG AUTHORITY WITH RE ASONABLE 16
AND PRACTICABLE PRIO R NOTICE OF THE REAS ON FOR WHICH THE INT ERMITTENT 17
LEAVE IS NECESSARY . 18
(3) AN EMPLOYEE MAY NOT T AKE INTERMITTENT LEA VE IN AN 19
INCREMENT OF LESS TH AN 4 HOURS. 20
(4) IF LEAVE IS TAKEN ON AN INTERMITTENT LEAV E SCHEDULE, AN 21
APPOINTING AUTHORITY MAY NOT REDUCE THE T OTAL AMOUNT OF LEAVE TO 22
WHICH THE EMPLOYEE I S ENTITLED BEYOND THE AMOUNT OF LEAVE ACTUALLY 23
TAKEN. 24
9–1005. 25
(A) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 26
AN EMPLOYEE MAY NOT RECEIVE MORE THAN 12 WEEKS OF LEAVE IN AN 27
APPLICATION YEAR . 28
(2) AN EMPLOYEE MAY RECEI VE AN ADDITIONAL 12 WEEKS OF LEAVE 29
IF THE EMPLOYEE DURI NG THE SAME APPLICAT ION YEAR: 30
8 HOUSE BILL 1503
(I) 1. RECEIVED LEAVE BECAU SE THE EMPLOYEE WAS 1
ELIGIBLE FOR LEAVE U NDER § 9–1004(A)(1)(I) OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 2
2. BECOMES ELIGIBLE FOR LEAVE UNDER § 3
9–1004(A)(1)(III) OF THIS SUBTITLE; OR 4
(II) 1. RECEIVED LEAVE BECAU SE THE EMPLOYEE WAS 5
ELIGIBLE FOR LEAVE U NDER § 9–1004(A)(1)(III) OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 6
2. BECOMES ELIGIBLE FOR LEAVE UNDER § 7
9–1004(A)(1)(I) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 8
(B) IF AN EMPLOYEE TAKES LEAVE UNDER THIS SUB TITLE, THE LEAVE 9
SHALL RUN CONCURRENT LY WITH ELIGIBLE LEA VE THAT MAY BE TAKEN BY THE 10
EMPLOYEE UNDER THE F EDERAL FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT. 11
(C) THE DEPARTMENT MAY COUNT THE LEAVE TAKEN UNDE R THE 12
FEDERAL FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT AGAINST AN EMPLOY EE’S MAXIMUM 13
DURATION OF LEAVE AVAILABL E UNDER THIS SUBTITL E IN AN APPLICATION YEAR 14
FOR THE SAME PURPOSE , IF: 15
(1) THE DEPARTMENT DESIGNATES A PERIOD OF LEAVE AS COVERED 16
BY THE FEDERAL FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT FOR AN EMPLOYEE W HO 17
WOULD ALSO QUALIFY F OR LEAVE UNDER § 9–1004(A)(1) OF THIS SUBTITLE; 18
(2) THE DEPARTMENT NOTIFIES T HE EMPLOYEE OF THE EMPLOYEE ’S 19
ELIGIBILITY FOR LEAV E UNDER THIS SUBTITL E; AND 20
(3) THE EMPLOYEE DECLINE S TO APPLY FOR LEAVE UNDER THIS 21
SUBTITLE. 22
[9–1001.] 9–1006. 23
(a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, the Secretary shall adopt regulations, 24
guidelines, or policies implementing the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. 25
(b) The regulations adopted by the Secretary: 26
(1) may require an eligible employee to use other available accrued leave 27
concurrently with family and medical leave; and 28
(2) may not limit, to less than 24 weeks, the aggregate number of weeks of 29
family and medical leave that two employees who are married to one another may use 30
during a 12–month period for: 31 HOUSE BILL 1503 9
(i) the birth of the employees’ child; 1
(ii) the placement of a child with the employees for adoption or foster 2
care; 3
(iii) the serious health condition of the employees’ child, if the child 4
is a minor; or 5
(iv) the care of the employees’ adult child, if the adult child is 6
incapable of self–care. 7
[9–1108. 8
(a) This section applies to all employees in the executive branch of State 9
government. 10
(b) On request, an employee subject to this section may be entitled to parental 11
leave with pay. 12
(c) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, an employee who is the 13
primary caregiver responsible for the care and nurturing of a child may use up to 60 days 14
of parental leave to care for the child during the period immediately following: 15
(i) the birth of the employee’s child; or 16
(ii) the placement of the child under 6 years of age with the employee 17
for adoption. 18
(2) (i) An employee entitled to parental leave authorized under 19
paragraph (1) of this subsection may use accrued annual leave and personal leave available 20
to the employee. 21
(ii) If the amount of leave specified under subparagraph (i) of this 22
paragraph is less than 60 days, the State agency that employs the employee shall provide 23
the employee with additional paid leave to attain 60 days of parental leave. 24
(d) An employee may use parental leave only after obtaining approval from the 25
employee’s appointing authority. 26
(e) (1) An employee who uses parental leave following the birth of the 27
employee’s child may not receive payment under this section unless the employee gives the 28
employee’s immediate supervisor information required by guidelines issued by the 29
Secretary on the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. 30
(2) An employee who uses parental leave for adoption purposes may not 31
receive payment under this subtitle unless the employee gives the employee’s immediate 32 10 HOUSE BILL 1503
supervisor the certificate required by guidelines issued by the Secretary on the federal 1
Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. 2
(f) The Secretary shall adopt regulations governing parental leave, including 3
regulations that establish conditions and procedures for requesting and approving parental 4
leave.] 5
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 6
October 1, 2025. 7