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*hb1248*
HOUSE BILL 1248
P4 (6lr2972)
ENROLLED BILL
— Appropriations/Finance —
Introduced by Delegate Wolek
Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
_______ day of _______________ at _________________ _______ o’clock, ________M.
______________________________________________
Speaker.
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Part–Time State Employment Pilot Program Workgroup for an Inclusive State 2
Workplace – Established 3
(Maryland Workforce Retention, Recruitment, and Reentry Act) 4
FOR the purpose of establishing the Part–Time State Employment Pilot Program in the 5
Department of Budget and Management to promote and support the inclusivity of 6
State employment by increasing the availability of part–time positions with benefits 7
in State government; requiring State agencies selected to participate in the Program 8
to evaluate full–time position vacancies to determine whether the vacant positions 9
could be converted to part–time positions with benefits; and generally relating to the 10
Part–Time State Employment Pilot Program Workgroup for an Inclusive State 11
Workplace to create a strategy and implementation work plan regarding more 12
inclusive study and make recommendations regarding the expansion of part –time 13
State employment opportunities for individuals who are challenged by the 14
traditional full–time employment structure; requiring the Department of Budget and 15
2 HOUSE BILL 1248
Management, taking into consideration the Workgroup’s findings and 1
recommendations, to develop and distribute guidance to State agencies on expanding 2
part–time employment opportunities; and generally relating to the Workgroup for an 3
Inclusive State Workplace. 4
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 5
Article – State Personnel and Pensions 6
Section 1–101(a), (f), and (j) 7
Annotated Code of Maryland 8
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 9
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 10
Article – State Personnel and Pensions 11
Section 7–701 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 14
BY adding to 15
Article – State Personnel and Pensions 16
Section 7–702 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 19
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 20
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 21
Article – State Personnel and Pensions 22
1–101. 23
(a) In this Division I of this article the following words have the meanings 24
indicated. 25
(f) Unless expressly provided otherwise, “Department” means the Department of 26
Budget and Management. 27
(j) “Position” means an employment assignment of duties and responsibilities 28
that requires the full–time employment of one individual or less than full–time employment 29
of one or more individuals. 30
7–701. 31
(a) [In] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN § 7–702 OF THIS SUBTITLE, IN this [title] 32
SUBTITLE, “part–time employee” means an employee who works an average of 50% or more 33
but less than 100% of the regular workweek. 34
HOUSE BILL 1248 3
(b) An individual who is a full–time employee who is qualified for or desires to be 1
a full–time employee may not be required to accept part –time employment as a condition 2
of continued or new State employment. 3
(c) An individual who is a part –time employee who is qualified for or desires to 4
be a part–time employee may not be required to accept full–time employment as a condition 5
of continued or new State employment. 6
(d) (1) In accordance with regulations adopted by the Secretary, a part –time 7
employee is entitled to receive all employment rights, privileges, and benefits that are 8
normally available to a full–time employee in a similar position with a similar grade and 9
length of service. 10
(2) Benefits shall be prorated in proportion to the number of hours 11
employed. 12
7–702. 13
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 14
INDICATED. 15
(2) “PART–TIME EMPLOYEE” MEANS AN EMPLOYEE WHO WORKS LESS 16
THAN 100% OF FULL–TIME EMPLOYMENT AND WHOSE POSITION DUTIES: 17
(I) DO NOT STEM FROM A P ARENT OR ORIGINATING POSITION 18
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER; AND 19
(II) ARE NOT MEANT TO BE SHARED WITH ANOTHER EMPLOYEE. 20
(3) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE PART–TIME STATE EMPLOYMENT 21
PILOT PROGRAM. 22
(B) THERE IS A PART–TIME STATE EMPLOYMENT PILOT PROGRAM IN THE 23
DEPARTMENT. 24
(C) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT THE 25
INCLUSIVITY OF STATE EMPLOYMENT BY I NCREASING THE AVAILA BILITY OF 26
PART–TIME POSITIONS WITH BENEFITS IN STATE GOVERNMENT. 27
(D) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SELECT FIVE AGENCIES IN THE EXECUTIVE 28
BRANCH OF STATE GOVERNMENT WITH A BROAD AND DIVERSE REPRESENTATION 29
OF POSITIONS AND POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. 30
4 HOUSE BILL 1248
(E) (1) EACH STATE AGENCY SELECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT SHALL 1
EVALUATE FULL –TIME POSITION VACANC IES WITHIN THE AGENC Y AS THE 2
POSITIONS BECOME AVAILA BLE TO DETERMINE WHE THER ANY OF THE VACA NT 3
FULL–TIME POSITIONS COULD BE CONVERTED TO TWO PART–TIME POSITIONS WITH 4
BENEFITS. 5
(2) IF A STATE AGENCY DETERMIN ES THAT THERE ARE NO VACANT 6
FULL–TIME POSITIONS WITHIN THE AGENCY THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CONVERSION 7
TO TWO PART–TIME POSITIONS, THE AGENCY SHALL DOCUMENT THE REASONS FOR 8
THE DETERMINATION. 9
(F) IF A STATE AGENCY DETERMINES THAT A VACANT FULL–TIME POSITION 10
IS ELIGIBLE FOR CONVERSION TO TWO PART–TIME POSITIONS, THE AGENCY SHALL: 11
(1) CONVERT THE FULL –TIME POSITION TO TWO PART–TIME 12
POSITIONS; AND 13
(2) ADVERTISE AND RECRUIT FOR THE VACANCY AS TWO PART–TIME 14
POSITIONS. 15
(G) IN ADDITION TO EVALUA TING VACANT FULL –TIME POSITIONS AS 16
REQUIRED UNDER SUBSE CTION (E)(1) OF THIS SECTION , A STATE AGENCY 17
SELECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR PARTIC IPATION IN THE PROGRAM MAY 18
EVALUATE ANY OTHER F ULL–TIME POSITIONS FOR P OTENTIAL SUITABILITY FOR 19
CONVERSION TO TWO PART–TIME POSITIONS. 20
(H) A SUPERVISOR WHOSE DUT IES NORMALLY INCLUDE SUPERVISING AN 21
INDIVIDUAL I N A FULL –TIME POSITION THAT I S CONVERTED TO TWO P ART–TIME 22
POSITIONS UNDER THE PROGRAM MAY NOT HAVE THEIR SUPERVISORY DU TIES 23
INCREASED BY MORE THAN ONE INDIVIDUAL AS A RESULT OF THE CONVERSION OF 24
FULL–TIME POSITIONS. 25
(I) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1 AND DECEMBER 1 EACH YEAR , BEGINNING 26
DECEMBER 1, 2026, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SUBM IT A REPORT TO THE 27
GOVERNOR AND , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT 28
ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON: 29
(1) THE STATUS OF THE EL IGIBILITY DETERMINAT IONS BY EACH 30
STATE AGENCY PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM; AND 31
(2) THE NUMBER OF NEW PA RT–TIME EMPLOYEES HIRED BY EACH 32
STATE AGENCY PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM. 33
HOUSE BILL 1248 5
(a) There is a Workgroup for an Inclusive State Workplace. 1
(b) The Workgroup consists of the following members: 2
(1) the Secretary of Budget and Management, or the Secretary’s designee; 3
(2) the Comptroller, or the Comptroller’s designee; 4
(3) the Secretary of Information Technology, or the Secretary’s designee; 5
(4) the Secretary of Commerce, or the Secretary’s designee; 6
(5) the Secretary of Aging, or the Secretary’s designee; 7
(6) the Executive Director of the Maryland Commission for Women, or the 8
Executive Director’s designee; 9
(7) the Secretary of Health, or the Secretary’s designee; 10
(8) the Deputy Secretary of the Developmental Disabilities 11
Administration, or the Deputy Secretary of Disabilities, or the Secretary’s designee; 12
(9) one representative from the Maryland Department of Health the 13
Secretary of Transportation, or the Secretary’s designee; 14
(10) the Chancellor of the University System of Maryland, or the 15
Chancellor’s designee; 16
(11) one representative from a State employees union, appointed by the 17
Governor; 18
(12) one member of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of 19
the Senate; 20
(12) (13) one member of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker 21
of the House; and 22
(13) (14) any representative appointed by the Governor under subsection 23
(c) of this section. 24
(c) The Governor may appoint the following members to the Workgroup: 25
(1) a representative who is actively engaged in the caregiving community; 26
(2) a representative who is actively engaged in the disabilities community; 27
(3) a representative who is actively engaged in the healthcare community; 28
6 HOUSE BILL 1248
(4) a representative who is actively engaged in the older adult community; 1
and 2
(5) a representative from a State employees union; and 3
(6) an economist with expertise in labor economics. 4
(d) The Governor shall designate the chair of the Workgroup. 5
(e) The Department of Budget and Management shall provide staff for the 6
Workgroup. 7
(f) A member of the Workgroup: 8
(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Workgroup; but 9
(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 10
Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 11
(g) (1) The Workgroup shall begin meeting before October 1, 2026. 12
(2) The Workgroup shall: 13
(1) outline the steps the State needs to take to offer more inclusive 14
employment opportunities for caregivers, people with disabilities or other medical 15
conditions, older adults, and other individuals challenged by the traditional full –time 16
employment structure; 17
(2) establish guidance for State agencies to create part –time jobs with 18
benefits; 19
(3) set annual goals to expand part –time job opportunities with benefits, 20
as well as other strategies for inclusion, for each of the next 5 years; 21
(4) identify any potential statutory changes required to implement the 22
inclusive employment plan devised by the Workgroup; and 23
(5) identify and quantify the long–term economic benefits to the State from 24
increased labor force participation by caregivers, people with disabilities o r other medical 25
conditions, older adults, and other individuals challenged by the traditional, full –time 26
employment structure. 27
(i) outline the steps the State needs to take to encourage the 28
expansion of part –time employment within the State Personnel Management System, the 29
University System of Maryland, and the Department of Transportation; 30
HOUSE BILL 1248 7
(ii) focus on the inclusive employment opportunities in State 1
government and removing obstacles for individuals challenged by full–time employment; 2
(iii) review the current policies and procedures concerning part –time 3
employment in State government; 4
(iv) analyze the budgetary incentives, recruitment best practices, and 5
support structures currently in place to encourage hiring of part –time, benefit –eligible 6
employees; 7
(v) study the economic and operational effects and quantify the 8
long–term economic benefits of part–time employment on households and State government; 9
(vi) suggest timelines and identify methods and associated metrics for 10
expanding part–time employment opportunities; and 11
(vii) identify any potential statutory changes required to implement 12
the steps identified by the Workgroup. 13
(h) On or before September 15, 2027, the Workgroup shall share its inclusive 14
workplace implementation str ategy and workplan provide its findings and 15
recommendations in a report to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2 –1257 of the 16
State Government Article. 17
(i) On or before December 31, 2027, the Department of Budget and Management 18
shall develop and distribute guidance to State agencies on expanding part–time employment 19
opportunities, taking into consideration the findings and recommendations of the 20
Workgroup. 21
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 22
1, 2026. It shall remain effective for a period of 3 2 years and, at the end of June 30, 2029 23
2028, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated 24
and of no further force and effect. 25
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.