Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB872 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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		-	Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
6		-	Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
7		-	amendment.
8	5		sb0872
9	6
10	7		SENATE BILL 872
11	8		L1, L3 5lr3131
12		-	CF ~~HB 1443~~
	9	+	CF 5lr2621
13	10		By: Senator Jennings
14	11		Introduced and read first time: January 28, 2025
15	12		Assigned to: Finance
16		-	Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
17		-	Senate action: Adopted with floor amendments
18		-	Read second time: February 24, 2025
19	13
20		-	~~CHAPTER ______~~
	14	+	A BILL ENTITLED
21	15
22	16		AN ACT concerning 1
23	17
24	18		Local Government – Hiring and Promotion Preferences for Veterans and 2
25	19		Spouses of Service Members and Veterans 3
26	20		(Families Serve Act) 4
27	21
28	22		FOR the purpose of authorizing counties and municipalities to grant, by local law, a 5
29	23		preference in the hiring and promotion to eligible veterans, spouses of eligible service 6
30	24		members, spouses of certain eligible veterans and eligible service members, and 7
31	25		surviving spouses of deceased eligible veterans; authorizing counties and 8
32	26		municipalities to adopt a local law that allows for the application of a certain credit 9
33	27		on a selection test for eligible spouses, eligible veterans, spouses of certain eligible 10
34	28		veterans, and surviving spouses of deceased eligible veterans; and generally relating 11
35	29		to hiring and promotion preferences for veterans and spouses of service members 12
36	30		and veterans. 13
37	31
38	32		BY renumbering 14
39	33		Article – Local Government 15
40	34		Section 1–204 through 1–206 16
41	35		to be Section 1–205 through 1–207, respectively 17
42	36		Annotated Code of Maryland 18
43	37		(2013 Volume and 2024 Supplement) 19
44	38
45	39		BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 20
46	40		Article – Labor and Employment 21
47	41		Section 3–714 22
48		-	Annotated Code of Maryland 23 2 SENATE BILL 872
	42	+	Annotated Code of Maryland 23
	43	+	(2016 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 24
	44	+
	45	+	BY adding to 25
	46	+	Article – Local Government 26
	47	+	Section 1–204 27
	48	+	Annotated Code of Maryland 28 2 SENATE BILL 872
49	49
50	50
51		-	(~~2016 Replacement~~ Volume and 2024 Supplement) 1
	51	+	(2013 Volume and 2024 Supplement) 1
52	52
53		-	BY ~~adding to~~ 2
	53	+	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 2
54	54		Article – Local Government 3
55		-	Section 1–~~204~~ 4
	55	+	Section 12–109(a)(2) 4
56	56		Annotated Code of Maryland 5
57	57		(2013 Volume and 2024 Supplement) 6
58	58
59		-	BY repealing and reenacting, ~~with~~ amendments, 7
60		-	Article – ~~Local Government~~ 8
61		-	Section 12–~~109~~(a)(2) 9
	59	+	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 7
	60	+	Article – State Personnel and Pensions 8
	61	+	Section 7–207(c)(1) 9
62	62		Annotated Code of Maryland 10
63		-	(~~2013~~ Volume and 2024 Supplement) 11
	63	+	(2024 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 11
64	64
65		-	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 12
66		-	Article – State Personnel and Pensions 13
67		-	Section 7–207(c)(1) 14
68		-	Annotated Code of Maryland 15
69		-	(2024 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 16
	65	+	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
	66	+	That Section(s) 1–204 through 1–206 of Article – Local Government of the Annotated Code 13
	67	+	of Maryland be renumbered to be Section(s) 1–205 through 1–207, respectively. 14
70	68
71		-	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 17
72		-	That Section(s) 1–204 through 1–206 of Article – Local Government of the Annotated Code 18
73		-	of Maryland be renumbered to be Section(s) 1–205 through 1–207, respectively. 19
	69	+	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 15
	70	+	as follows: 16
74	71
75		-	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 20
76		-	as follows: 21
	72	+	Article – Labor and Employment 17
77	73
78		-	~~Article – Labor and Employment 22~~
	74	+	3–714. 18
79	75
80		-	~~3–714~~. 23
	76	+	(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 19
81	77
82		-	(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 24
	78	+	(2) “Eligible service member” means a full–time active duty member of any 20
	79	+	branch of the uniformed services of the United States. 21
83	80
84		-	(2) “Eligible service member” means a full–time active duty member of any 25
85		-	branch of the uniformed services of the United States. 26
	81	+	(3) “Eligible veteran” means a veteran of any branch of the uniformed 22
	82	+	services of the United States who has received an honorable discharge or a certificate of 23
	83	+	satisfactory completion of service, including: 24
86	84
87		-	(3) “Eligible veteran” means a veteran of any branch of the uniformed 27
88		-	services of the United States who has received an honorable discharge or a certificate of 28
89		-	satisfactory completion of service, including: 29
	85	+	(i) the National Guard; 25
90	86
91		-	(i) the ~~National Guard~~; 30
	87	+	(ii) the military reserves; 26
92	88
93		-	(ii) the ~~military reserves~~; 31
	89	+	(iii) the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service; and 27
94	90
95		-	(~~iii~~) the Commissioned Corps of the ~~Public Health Service;~~ and 32
96		-	~~SENATE BILL 872 3~~
	91	+	(iv) the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and 28
	92	+	Atmospheric Administration. 29
97	93
	94	+	(4) “EMPLOYER” INCLUDES A COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATIO N. 30
98	95
99		-	(iv) the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and 1
100		-	Atmospheric Administration. 2
101		-
102		-	(4) “EMPLOYER” INCLUDES A COU NTY OR MUNICIPAL COR PORATION. 3
103		-
104		-	(b) [An] SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION , AN employer may 4
105		-	grant a preference in hiring and promotion to: 5
106		-
107		-	(1) an eligible veteran; 6
108		-
109		-	(2) the spouse of an eligible veteran who has a service–connected disability; 7
110		-
111		-	(3) the spouse of an eligible service member; or 8
112		-
113		-	(4) the surviving spouse of a deceased eligible veteran. 9
114		-
115		-	(c) Granting a preference under subsection (b) of this section does not violate any 10
116		-	State or local equal employment opportunity law. 11
117		-
118		-	(D) FOR IF AN EMPLOYER WHO THAT IS A COUNTY OR MUNIC IPAL 12
119		-	CORPORATION CHOOSES TO GRANT A P REFERENCE UNDER SUBS ECTION (B) OF THIS 13
120		-	SECTION, THE COUNTY OR MUNICI PAL CORPORATION SHALL MAY ADOPT A LOCAL 14
121		-	LAW THAT PROVIDES FO R THE HIRING AND PRO MOTION PREFERENCE AUTHORIZED 15
122		-	UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION BEFORE IMPLEMENTING THE 16
123		-	PREFERENCE . 17
124		-
125		-	Article – Local Government 18
126		-
127		-	1–204. 19
128		-
129		-	(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 20
130		-	INDICATED. 21
131		-
132		-	(2) “ELIGIBLE SPOUSE” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 7–207 OF THE 22
133		-	STATE PERSONNEL AND PENSIONS ARTICLE. 23
134		-
135		-	(3) “ELIGIBLE VETERAN ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 7–207 OF 24
136		-	THE STATE PERSONNEL AND PENSIONS ARTICLE. 25
137		-
138		-	(B) (1) IF A COUNTY OR MUNICI PALITY USES A SELECT ION TEST FOR THE 26
139		-	HIRING OR APPOINTMEN T OF EMPLOYEES , THE COUNTY OR MUNICIPALI TY MAY 27
140		-	ADOPT A LOCAL LAW TH AT ALLOWS FOR THE AP PLICATION OF A CREDI T OF 10 28
141		-	POINTS, OR ITS EQUIVALENT , ON A SELECTION TEST FOR: 29
142		-
143		-	(I) AN ELIGIBLE SPOUSE ; 30 4 SENATE BILL 872
	96	+	(b) [An] SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION , AN employer may 31
	97	+	grant a preference in hiring and promotion to: 32 SENATE BILL 872 3
144	98
145	99
146	100
147		-	(II) AN ELIGIBLE VETERAN ; 1
	101	+	(1) an eligible veteran; 1
148	102
149		-	(III) THE SPOUSE OF AN ELI GIBLE VETERAN WHO HA S A 2
150		-	SERVICE–CONNECTED DISABILITY ; OR 3
	103	+	(2) the spouse of an eligible veteran who has a service–connected disability; 2
151	104
152		-	(IV) THE SURVIVING SPOUSE OF A DECEASED ELIGIB LE 4
153		-	VETERAN. 5
	105	+	(3) the spouse of an eligible service member; or 3
154	106
155		-	(2) A LOCAL LAW ADOPTED UN DER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 6
156		-	SUBSECTION: 7
	107	+	(4) the surviving spouse of a deceased eligible veteran. 4
157	108
158		-	(I) MAY ALLOW FOR THE AP PLICATION OF A CREDI T OF TWO 8
159		-	ADDITIONAL POINTS , OR ITS EQUIVALENT, ON ANY SELECTION TES T FOR A FORMER 9
160		-	PRISONER OF WAR ; AND 10
	109	+	(c) Granting a preference under subsection (b) of this section does not violate any 5
	110	+	State or local equal employment opportunity law. 6
161	111
162		-	(II) IF NECESSARY, SHALL CLARIFY THE AP PLICATION OF ANY 11
163		-	SPECIAL CREDIT APPLI ED UNDER § 1–205 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 12
	112	+	(D) FOR AN EMPLOYER WHO I S A COUNTY OR MUNICI PAL CORPORATION , 7
	113	+	THE COUNTY OR MUNICI PAL CORPORATION SHAL L ADOPT A LOCAL LAW THAT 8
	114	+	PROVIDES FOR THE HIR ING AND PROMOTION PREFER ENCE AUTHORIZED UNDE R 9
	115	+	SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION BEFO RE IMPLEMENTING THE PREFERENCE . 10
164	116
165		-	(C) THE FOLLOWING APPLICA NTS ARE INELIGIBLE F OR A CREDIT UNDER 13
166		-	THIS SUBSECTION: 14
	117	+	Article – Local Government 11
167	118
168		-	~~(1) A CURRENT EMPLOYEE O F A COUNTY OR MUNICI PALITY; AND 15~~
	119	+	1–204. 12
169	120
170		-	(2) ~~AN ELIGIBLE VETERAN WHO IS CONVICTED OF A CRIME AFTER 16~~
171		-	~~BEING DISCHARGED FRO M OR COMPLETING MILI TARY SERVICE~~. 17
	121	+	(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 13
	122	+	INDICATED. 14
172	123
173		-	12–109. 18
	124	+	(2) “ELIGIBLE SPOUSE” HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 7–207 OF THE 15
	125	+	STATE PERSONNEL AND PENSIONS ARTICLE. 16
174	126
175		-	(a) Frederick County may: 19
	127	+	(3) “ELIGIBLE VETERAN ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 7–207 OF 17
	128	+	THE STATE PERSONNEL AND PENSIONS ARTICLE. 18
176	129
177		-	(2) require a county employee, as a condition of employment, to elect to 20
178		-	receive the payment of wages by debit card or, subject to [§ 1–205(b)] § 1–206(B) and (c) of 21
179		-	this article, by direct deposit. 22
	130	+	(B) (1) IF A COUNTY OR MUNICI PALITY USES A SELECT ION TEST FOR THE 19
	131	+	HIRING OR AP POINTMENT OF EMPLOYE ES, THE COUNTY OR MUNICI PALITY MAY 20
	132	+	ADOPT A LOCAL LAW TH AT ALLOWS FOR THE AP PLICATION OF A CREDI T OF 10 21
	133	+	POINTS, OR ITS EQUIVALENT , ON A SELECTION TEST FOR: 22
180	134
181		-	~~Article – State Personnel and Pensions~~ 23
	135	+	(I) AN ELIGIBLE SPOUSE ; 23
182	136
183		-	~~7–207.~~ 24
	137	+	(II) AN ELIGIBLE VETERAN ; 24
184	138
185		-	(c) ~~(1) (i) In this subsection~~ the ~~following words have the meanings~~ 25
186		-	~~indicated.~~ 26
	139	+	(III) THE SPOUSE OF AN ELIGIBLE VETERAN WHO HAS A 25
	140	+	SERVICE–CONNECTED DISABILITY ; OR 26
187	141
188		-	(ii) “Eligible spouse” means an individual who is married to a 27
189		-	full–time active duty member of any branch of the uniformed services of the United States. 28
190		-	SENATE BILL 872 5
191		-
192		-
193		-	(iii) “Eligible veteran” means a veteran of any branch of the 1
194		-	uniformed services of the United States who has received an honorable discharge or a 2
195		-	certificate of satisfactory completion of service, including the National Guard and the 3
196		-	military reserves. 4
197		-
198		-	SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 5
199		-	October 1, 2025. 6
	142	+	(IV) THE SURVIVING SPOUSE OF A DECEASED ELIGIB LE 27
	143	+	VETERAN. 28 4 SENATE BILL 872
200	144
201	145
202	146
	147	+	(2) A LOCAL LAW ADOPTED UN DER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 1
	148	+	SUBSECTION: 2
203	149
204		-	Approved:
205		-	________________________________________________________________________________
206		-	Governor.
207		-	________________________________________________________________________________
208		-	President of the Senate.
209		-	________________________________________________________________________________
210		-	Speaker of the House of Delegates.
	150	+	(I) MAY ALLOW FOR THE AP PLICATION OF A CREDI T OF TWO 3
	151	+	ADDITIONAL POINTS, OR ITS EQUIVALENT , ON ANY SELECTION TES T FOR A FORMER 4
	152	+	PRISONER OF WAR ; AND 5
	153	+
	154	+	(II) IF NECESSARY, SHALL CLARIFY THE AP PLICATION OF ANY 6
	155	+	SPECIAL CREDIT APPLI ED UNDER § 1–205 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 7
	156	+
	157	+	(C) THE FOLLOWING APPLICA NTS ARE INELIGIBLE F OR A CREDIT UNDER 8
	158	+	THIS SUBSECTION : 9
	159	+
	160	+	(1) A CURRENT EMPLOYEE O F A COUNTY OR MUNICI PALITY; AND 10
	161	+
	162	+	(2) AN ELIGIBLE VETERAN WHO IS CONVICTED OF A CRIME AFTER 11
	163	+	BEING DISCHARGED FRO M OR COMPLETING MILI TARY SERVICE. 12
	164	+
	165	+	12–109. 13
	166	+
	167	+	(a) Frederick County may: 14
	168	+
	169	+	(2) require a county employee, as a condition of employment, to elect to 15
	170	+	receive the payment of wages by debit card or, subject to [§ 1–205(b)] § 1–206(B) and (c) of 16
	171	+	this article, by direct deposit. 17
	172	+
	173	+	Article – State Personnel and Pensions 18
	174	+
	175	+	7–207. 19
	176	+
	177	+	(c) (1) (i) In this subsection the following words have the meanings 20
	178	+	indicated. 21
	179	+
	180	+	(ii) “Eligible spouse” means an individual who is married to a 22
	181	+	full–time active duty member of any branch of the uniformed services of the United States. 23
	182	+
	183	+	(iii) “Eligible veteran” means a veteran of any branch of the 24
	184	+	uniformed services of the United States who has received an honorable discharge or a 25
	185	+	certificate of satisfactory completion of service, including the National Guard and the 26
	186	+	military reserves. 27
	187	+
	188	+	SECTION 3. AND BE IT FUR THER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 28
	189	+	October 1, 2025. 29
	190	+