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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0516*
HOUSE BILL 516
C2, C3 6lr1531
By: Delegate Vogel
Introduced and read first time: January 27, 2026
Assigned to: Government, Labor, and Elections
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Department of Labor – Investigation of Complaints – Requirements 2
(Worksite Enforcement Act of 2026) 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Department of Labor to establish certain 4
procedures for receiving, reviewing, and investigating certain complaints regarding 5
matters under the jurisdiction of the Department; requiring the Department to 6
employ a certain number of investigators for certain regions of the State for a certain 7
purpose; requiring, beginning in a certain fiscal year, the Governor to include in the 8
annual budget bill an appropriation for the hiring of certain investigators; and 9
generally relating to the Maryland Department of Labor and complaint 10
investigation. 11
BY adding to 12
Article – Business Regulation 13
Section 2–111 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 16
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 17
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 18
Article – Business Regulation 19
2–111. 20
(A) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL: 21
(1) ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR RECEIVING , REVIEWING, AND 22
INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS REGARDING MATTERS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF 23
THE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING MISMANAGEMENT, MISCONDUCT, ABUSE, FRAUD, 24
2 HOUSE BILL 516
WASTE, AND BEHAVIOR THAT TH REATENS PUBLIC SAFETY OR DEM ONSTRATES 1
NEGLIGENCE, INCOMPETENCE, OR MALFEASANCE; AND 2
(2) COOPERATE WITH AND C OORDINATE INVESTIGAT IVE EFFORTS 3
WITH: 4
(I) THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION OF THE OFFICE 5
OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND , WHEN A PRELIMINARY INVESTI GATION 6
ESTABLISHES A SUFFIC IENT BASIS TO WARRAN T A REFERRAL , SHALL REFER 7
MATTERS TO THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION OF THE OFFICE OF THE 8
ATTORNEY GENERAL; AND 9
(II) UNITS IN THE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER STATE AND 10
FEDERAL AGENCIES. 11
(B) (1) ON RECEIPT OF A COMPLAINT, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SEND A 12
WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THE COMPLAINANT: 13
(I) WITHIN 7 CALENDAR DAYS AFTER RECEIPT IF THE 14
COMPLAINT ALLEGES UNLICENSED OR UNSAFE ACTIVITY THAT POSES AN IMMINENT 15
RISK TO PUBLIC SAFETY; 16
(II) WITHIN 14 CALENDAR DAYS AFTER RECEIPT IF THE 17
COMPLAINT ALLEGES WAGE THEFT , WORKER MISCLASSIFICA TION, OR 18
PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT; AND 19
(III) WITHIN 30 CALENDAR DAYS AFTER RECEIPT IF THE 20
COMPLAINT ALLEGES ADMINISTRATIVE OR RECORD–KEEPING DEFICIENCIES. 21
(2) A RESPONSE TO A COMPLAINANT BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER 22
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION SHALL STATE: 23
(I) WHETHER THE DEPARTMENT IS ABLE TO INVESTIGATE THE 24
COMPLAINT; AND 25
(II) IF THE DEPARTMENT IS UNABLE TO INVESTIGATE THE 26
COMPLAINT: 27
1. THE REASONS FOR THE INABILITY TO INVESTIGATE; 28
AND 29
2. THE CONTACT INFORMAT ION FOR THE DIVISION OF 30
CONSUMER PROTECTION OF THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. 31
HOUSE BILL 516 3
(C) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL INIT IATE A PRELIMINARY 1
FACT–FINDING INVESTIGATION ON RECEIPT OF A COMPLAINT IN A MANNER AND 2
WITHIN A TIME FRAME SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT THE LOSS OF EVIDENCE OR A DELAY 3
IN ENFORCEMENT. 4
(2) A PRELIMINARY FACT –FINDING INVESTIGATIO N UNDER 5
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION MAY INCLUDE: 6
(I) VERIFYING LICENSURE , REGISTRATION, PERMIT, AND 7
CERTIFICATION; 8
(II) CONDUCTING SITE CHECKS; 9
(III) REQUESTING RECORDS , INCLUDING PERMITS , PAYROLL 10
RECORDS, AND WORKER CLASSIFICATION DOCUMENTATION; AND 11
(IV) ANY OTHER INVESTIGAT ORY ACTION NECESSARY TO 12
PRESERVE EVIDENCE AND SUBSTANTIATE THE ALLEGATIONS OF A COMPLAINT. 13
(D) THE INITIATION OF A N INVESTIGATION OF A COMPLAINT UNDER THIS 14
SECTION DOES NOT CON STITUTE A FINAL DETE RMINATION OF LIABILI TY OR AN 15
ENFORCEMENT ACTION BY THE DEPARTMENT. 16
(E) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL EMPLOY ONE INVESTIGATOR FOR EACH 17
OF THE FOLLOWING REGIONS TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH 18
THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION: 19
(I) WESTERN MARYLAND (ALLEGANY COUNTY, CARROLL 20
COUNTY, GARRETT COUNTY, AND WASHINGTON COUNTY); 21
(II) BALTIMORE COUNTY AND BALTIMORE CITY; 22
(III) THE EASTERN SHORE; 23
(IV) CENTRAL MARYLAND (ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, 24
FREDERICK COUNTY, HARFORD COUNTY, HOWARD COUNTY, AND MONTGOMERY 25
COUNTY); AND 26
(V) STATEWIDE AND SOUTHERN MARYLAND (CALVERT 27
COUNTY, CHARLES COUNTY, PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, AND ST. MARY’S 28
COUNTY). 29
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(2) EACH INVESTIGATOR UND ER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 1
SUBSECTION IS ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES UNDER THE 2
STANDARD STATE TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET. 3
(F) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER, THE 4
GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUDE IN THE ANNUAL BUDG ET BILL AN APPROPRIATION OF 5
$500,000 FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF FIVE INVESTIGATORS UNDER SUBSECTION (E) 6
OF THIS SECTION. 7
(G) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOP T REGULATIONS TO IMP LEMENT THE 8
PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION, INCLUDING REGULATIONS SPECIFYING PROCESSES 9
AND PROCEDURES FOR: 10
(1) THE PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF COMPLAINTS TO PRIORITIZE 11
THE IDENTIFICATION O F URGENT ISSUES THAT T HREATEN PUBLIC OR PE RSONAL 12
SAFETY REQUIRING PRIORITY INVESTIGATION AND RESPONSE; 13
(2) REFERRING COMPLAINTS TO OTHER DIVISIONS WITHIN THE 14
DEPARTMENT OR OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES; AND 15
(3) DOCUMENTING COMPLAINTS, INVESTIGATIVE FINDINGS, AND 16
OUTCOMES. 17
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 18
October 1, 2026. 19