Legislation

The 2017 Maryland Legislative session has ended and the Governor’s budget did not include a COLA or funding for step increments. Still, the legislature did move forward on some bills that benefit state employees

• Leap Year Personal Leave (HB 324/SB580) will provide an additional personal leave day during a leap year.  State employees should not be forced to take a pay cut during a leap year.  
• Payroll Recovery (HB 1144) passed.  Under this legislation, those harmed in the “Workday” rollout after March of 2016 will have the month of July 2017 to file a grievance for lost wages. Going forward

MPEC members made their voices heard during this legislative session.  Over 50 MPEC and AFT Healthcare members participated in three lobby nights during the 2017 legislative session. Members spoke with legislators about important topics to state employees, including investing in Maryland and valuing state employees, improving indoor air quality and working conditions for state employees.  Still, the Governor did not include raises for state employees in this year's budget. 

The Maryland Senate passed SB540, creating a study of alternatives to the current defined benefit pension system.  Any alternative that drains resources from the pension system will be harmful for the state’s economy, taxpayers and state employees.  Your delegates need to hear from you that these priorities just don’t add up.  

A bill that will positively impact state employees is the Payroll Recovery Act (SB1031).  The House version of this bill passed the House of Delegates last night and is currently being heard in the Senate. 

MPEC members lobbied state legislators on this issue on Monday

Throughout this legislative session, MPEC members united to improve and defend employee protections and benefits. The below bills resulted in a favorable outcome for MPEC members and their families:

HB 139 

Requires all teachers in Juvenile Services and the Department of Labor to be in the professional services of State Personnel Management. This will bring those teachers into the bargaining unit. Effective July, 2022.

SB 275-Veto Override

Creates the Maryland Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI)Program. Maryland is now one of ten states, plus the District of Columbia, to enact a law that provides benefits (paid leave) for an employee’s serious health condition, the birth or adoption of a child, the serious health condition of an employee’s relative, or for a qualifying exigency of a family member of an individual serving in the military. The law goes into effect on June 1, 2022, but benefits will not be available until January 2025.

HB 172 

Allows union dues to be tax-deductible.  Effective date July 1, 2022. 

SB 541- The Maryland Outdoors Act

Improves state park infrastructure, capacity, accessibility, and employee retention. Some specifics include:

• Renames Park Ranger Associates to Park Rangers
• Adds Park Rangers to the Hometown Heroes tax deferment 
• Gives Park Rangers the ability to issue parking citations
• Covers Park Rangers under presumptive language on Lyme Disease 
• Provides $12 million for the hiring and retaining of state park personnel

Effective Jun 1, 2022

SB 794- Successfully STOPPED

This bill was successfully stopped. It would have given complete autonomy to MSDE’s management without accountability and stripped employee protections. If passed, the agency would not have to follow the standard protocols for hiring, advancement, or termination of employees.

Together, we will continue working towards a better work-life in state service as we strengthen and increase our collective efforts.