Collective Bargaining - Local Government Employees and Public Employee Relations Act

SB 922 establishes collective bargaining rights for county and municipal employees in Maryland by applying the state's Public Employee Relations Act to local governments. It defines "public local employees" (excluding confidential/management staff and school/library workers) and requires counties/municipalities to adopt local labor laws for negotiations. Key provisions include mandatory good-faith bargaining, binding arbitration for unresolved disputes, and procedures for local governments to seek board reviews of their labor policies. The bill directly affects local government workers and employers across Maryland's counties and cities, excluding school boards, community colleges, and public libraries.