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<section article="ghg" article_name="Health - General" number="17-2A-10" title_number="17" title_name="Laboratories" subtitle_number="2A" subtitle_name="Forensic Laboratories">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “discriminate or retaliate” includes:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Failing to promote an individual or to provide another employment–related benefit for which the individual would otherwise be eligible;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Making an adverse evaluation or decision in relation to accreditation, certification, credentialing, or licensing of the individual; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Taking a personnel action that is adverse to the individual concerned.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>An employee who works in a forensic laboratory may disclose information to the Secretary that the employee believes evidences a violation of standards and requirements for forensic laboratories in the State.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>A forensic laboratory may not discriminate or retaliate against an employee because the employee:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Discloses information under subsection (b) of this section; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Has agreed to cooperate with an investigation of the forensic laboratory.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Secretary shall develop, through regulation, a document that informs the employees of a forensic laboratory of the procedures to report instances of noncompliance or other violations of the standards and requirements for forensic  laboratories in the State.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Secretary shall distribute the document developed under paragraph (1) of this subsection to forensic laboratories in the State.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>A forensic laboratory shall post the document developed under subsection (d) of this section in a conspicuous place.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>An employee of a forensic laboratory who has been discriminated or retaliated against in violation of subsection (c) of this section may initiate an action and, on prevailing, shall be entitled to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Reinstatement;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Reimbursement for lost wages;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Work benefits lost as a result of the unlawful acts of the employing laboratory; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Reasonable attorney’s fees and costs associated with pursuing the action.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>No action may be brought under this  subsection more than 2 years after the discrimination or retaliation that is the basis for the action.</text>
  </level>
</section>
