Employment Standards - Firefighters - Payment of Wages and Payroll Information

HB 532 requires counties and municipalities in Maryland to calculate overtime pay for government-employed firefighters based on hours worked over 168 in a 28-day period (instead of the standard 40-hour workweek). It also mandates that these employers provide firefighters with specific payroll information at hiring, during pay rate changes, and with each paycheck - including pay rates, overtime rates, hours worked, and deductions. If employers fail to provide this information or pay due wages, firefighters or their representatives can file a grievance, triggering automatic damages that increase by 30% per pay period until resolved, capped at three times the missing amount. The bill directly affects all firefighters employed by Maryland local governments and aims to standardize overtime calculations and improve payroll transparency.