Bill Positions

Bill Number: HB 40

Bill Title: Flexible Leave Act

Bill Sponsor(s): Delegate Doory

Subject: Employer Relations

Committee: ECM

Bill Summary: Authorizing employees of specified employers to use leave with pay for the illness of the employee's immediate family; providing that an employee may only use leave with pay that has been earned; providing that an employee who earns more than one type of leave with pay may elect the type and amount of leave with pay to be used; requiring an employee who uses leave with pay under the Act to comply with the terms of a collective bargaining agreement or employment policy with a certain exception; etc.

History: This bill was introduced in the Senate during the 2007 Legislative Session as SB 260. The bill died in the Senate Finance Committee.

Chamber Position: Oppose

Position Summary: The breadth of this Bill's application was extensive. It would have set a floor for employers who have existing paid leave policies. This legislation would have vested exclusive control of the use of paid leave with the employee, whereas under the FMLA both the employer and the employee have joint control over how paid leave is used. Further, this Bill would have likely increased the number of disputes between employees and their employers, which is unnecessary as employers typically accommodate employee leave requests to retain them on their employment team. For these reasons, the Maryland Chamber opposed this legislation.

Position Statement: Click here to download a pdf version of the Maryland Chamber's position statement.

Chamber Staff: Allyson Black

General Assembly: Click here to view the bill on the Maryland General Assembly's website.