Labor & Employment

SB 748 requires Allegany County correctional officers to join the Correctional Officers’ Retirement System if the county participates in it, replacing their current membership in the Employees’ Pension System. Officers who join this system will automatically lose all membership and future benefit rights in the Employees’ Pension System. The bill applies to officers employed by Allegany County’s detention center before June 1, 2026, and transitioning to the new system. This change takes effect on June 1, 2026, with no transfer of pension benefits governed by standard rules.

SB 445 requires counties and municipalities in Maryland to calculate overtime pay for firefighters based on hours worked over 168 hours in a 28-day period (instead of the standard 40-hour workweek). It also mandates that employers provide firefighters with detailed payroll statements at hiring, when pay rates change, and for each pay period, including hours worked, gross earnings, and deductions. If a county or municipality fails to provide required payroll information or pay due wages, firefighters or their representatives can file a grievance to recover missing wages plus increasing damages of 30% per pay period - capped at three times the amount due - until resolved. This bill directly affects firefighters employed by local governments and clarifies their entitlement to transparent payroll records and timely compensation.