CHRA Government Affairs Center > Legislative, Regulatory and Employment Law

Government Affairs Committee (GAC) Monthly Report: September 26, 2008

I. Monthly HRVoice Report - As of August 31st Maryland SHRM members have written a total of 1,986 letters through SHRM's HRVoice website to their federal and state elected officials. Maryland remains in FIFTH PLACE out of all 50 states in the total number of letters written YTD!

The CHRA Government Affairs Committee would like to give thanks to the following SHRM and CHRA members who sent letters in August:

II. Maryland Legislative Update - As of this writing we anticipate the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation to publish implementing regulations related to the Pay Disparity on Friday, October 12th (the Act takes effect on October 1st ). Once published, there will be a 30-day notice and comment period before final regulations are published. Please stay tuned for alerts.

Also taking effect on the same date is Maryland's new Flexible Leave Act. As a result, Maryland employers that employ 15 or more employees and offer leave with pay:

• Must permit an employee to use such leave for an immediately family member's illness (parent, spouse or child - child is not defined);
• Must permit the employee to choose the type and amount of leave s/he wishes to use if more than one type is offered (sick or vacation, for example);
• May still require the employee to comply with the terms of a related employment policy (such as following call-in procedures);
• May not take adverse employment action (discharge, demote, suspend, discipline) or otherwise discriminate against an employee who exercises his or her rights under the new law.
  

According to a letter issued by the Maryland Assistant Attorney General dated May 28, 2008 the law will apply to the use of paid leave that accrued prior to October 1, 2008 as well as leave accrued on or after that date.

You should consult with your company's legal counsel to consider changes, if any, that you may need or want to make to your related policy(ies).

III. Federal Legislative & Regulatory Updates: For the latest updates visit the MD SHRM State Website at http://md.shrm.org and click on Legislative News.

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Committee Chair:
Christine V. Walters, MAS, JD, SPHR - FiveL Company

Committee Members:
Gregory Derwart - Arc of Baltimore
Greta L. Engle - Kelly Benefit Strategies
Daniel Lasson, PHR - Murthy Law Firm
Sara A. Stark, SPHR, CCP, CBP - LifeBridge Health
Nicole Windsor, Esq. - Bowie & Jensen, LLC

Our Mission:
"To influence legislative issues in Maryland related to HR management practice and in accordance with the Association's purpose of advancing the HR discipline; and to act as liaison to Maryland's governmental entities within the legislative, executive and judicial branches."

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