Labor & Employment

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.

SB 44 would require forfeiture of pension benefits for public employees convicted of specific crimes committed while performing job duties. It applies to members of systems like police, teachers, correctional officers, and judges' pensions. The bill establishes procedures for courts to review requests for partial benefit payments within one year of conviction, considering factors like crime severity and financial need. It also protects existing court orders for spousal support or child custody from being altered by the forfeiture.