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Governor Moore Signs PORT Act into Law and Five Bills Under the Moore-Miller Administration's Legislative Agenda Dedicated to Making Maryland the State that Serves The Protecting Election Officials Act, addresses the epidemic of threats and harassment targeting election officials that pose a fundamental threat to Maryland’s ability to conduct free and fair elections.The law creates a new misdemeanor charge in the Election Law Article for threats against election officials or their families. The Caring for Public Employees in Safety Professions (CAPES) Act, expands workers compensation presumptions for firefighters to cover thyroid, colon, and ovarian cancers. The Families Serve Act, supports Maryland’s military families by expanding job opportunities for military spouses. The law requires that spouses of members of any branch of the uniformed services receive a 10 point credit to selection tests when applying for State jobs, and authorizes private employers to grant hiring and promotion preferences to spouses of a full-time active-duty member of any branch of the uniformed services. The Time to Serve Act, increases the amount of disaster service leave for executive branch employees from 15 to 30 days. In addition, state employees who serve in the National Guard and military reserves may use up to 30 paid leave days for training or service duty, increased from 15 leave days. Source:

In Maryland, when a workers' compensation claim is filed, employers can contest the claim, asserting that neither they nor their insurers should be responsible for the worker’s injury or illness. If contested, the worker is notified in writing and can respond, potentially through legal representation. The claim may face denial if not adequately addressed, leading to a hearing before an administrative law judge where evidence and testimony are presented. Successful hearings can result in compensation for lost wages, medical costs, and even attorney’s fees. For those denied after a hearing, appeals can be made with legal assistance, aiming for a rightful claim settlement. #WorkersCompensation #LegalRights #MarylandLaw #EmploymentLaw #WorkplaceSafety

Navigating the Legal Maze: New Court Ruling on Furloughs, Unpaid Leave & Immediate Payment of Wages! Are you incurring waiting time penalties? Stay informed with the latest insights. https://lnkd.in/gHM9UJSc

In Maryland, workers’ compensation serves as financial protection for injuries sustained "out of and in the course of" employment. If a claim is denied, workers have the option to appeal, often with the aid of a skilled attorney. Contested claims can be challenged through hearings before the Workers' Compensation Commission, where evidence and witnesses can be presented. Successful hearings may result in compensation for lost wages, medical costs, and attorney’s fees. For those navigating the complexities of a denied claim, experienced legal representation is crucial to achieve a favorable outcome. #WorkersCompensation #MarylandLaw #LegalAppeal #InjuryRecovery #WorkplaceSafety

Learn about appeals and resolutions for denied workers' compensation claims.

The importance of a politically independent civil service cannot be overstated. A professional, nonpartisan bureaucracy is essential for ensuring efficiency, integrity, and accountability in government operations. Historically, the "spoils system" dominated U.S. civil service, where government positions were handed out as political rewards, leading to widespread corruption and incompetence. This system was dismantled by reforms such as the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883, which established a merit-based system to ensure that appointments were made based on qualifications rather than political loyalty. However, recent events have exposed vulnerabilities in our civil service system. The U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) recently faced a nearly four-year period without a quorum, leaving it unable to process appeals or protect civil servants. This gap left federal employees without real protections, highlighting the critical need for a fully operational and independent MSPB. Reflecting on my own experience, my first job after graduating from the University of Oklahoma and returning from my last overseas deployment was at the U.S. Small Business Administration. At the time, I didn’t know any better, but looking back, it was the worst place I ever worked. The environment was rife with harassment and discrimination. When I reported violations of federal law, I faced reprisal and was ultimately fired. Despite the Office of Special Counsel recommending my reinstatement, the agency ignored them. And with the MSPB unappointed, my case, like many others, sat stagnant for nearly a decade. This experience underscores the critical need for a politically independent civil service. Without a fully operational MSPB, federal employees are left vulnerable, and accountability is severely compromised. A professional civil service ensures that employees are judged on their qualifications and conduct, not their political allegiances, preserving the foundational principles of our democracy. The journey from the corruption of the spoils system to a merit-based civil service has been long and challenging, but it remains an ongoing process. Strengthening protections and ensuring robust mechanisms to address grievances are essential for upholding the integrity of federal employment. As we move forward, it is imperative to maintain and enhance the political independence of our civil service to safeguard our democratic institutions and ensure that government operations are carried out with the highest standards of professionalism and fairness.

We understand the challenges your business faces when it comes to navigating the complex landscape of leave regulations across different states. That's why we're excited to help centralize leave-related requirements in one singular platform, complete with state-specific resources tailored to your needs: https://hubs.li/Q02w8R270 Newest Additions to GovDocs Paid Leave: ✅ Voting-Leave Requirements: As election seasons approach, stay compliant with a breakdown of voting leave laws across each state. ✅ Bereavement-Leave Requirements: Support employees during a time of loss by understanding applicable bereavement-leave requirements. ✅ Jury Duty-Leave Requirements: Jury duty is legally required for those selected. Stay up to date with states who have passed their own leave laws. #paidleave #paidleavelaws #votingleave #bereavementleave #juryduty #employmentlaw #compliance #hr #hrcommunity #hrnews #govdocs

Learn how to navigate workers' compensation hearings and appeals.

From Littler: We are in the final stretch of the California legislature’s first year of a two-year session. One bill that sped through the legislative process—without any registered opposition—is Senate Bill 699, which extends the state’s restrictions on non-compete agreements to contracts signed out of state. ... While #California employers have known for some time that they cannot enforce restrictive covenants against California #employees, SB 699 expands the scope of this prohibition and creates serious #liability to employers whose contracts have not been recently updated to account for the shifting legal landscape. #restrictivecovenants #noncompeteagreements

Gun-safety laws, including so-called red flag warnings for people at risk of harming themselves or others, sweeping landlord-tenant changes and a statewide sick leave plan all became law Jan. 1.