In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Employee” means a fire, emergency medical services, paramedic, rescue, or support employee hired and compensated by a county or municipal corporation or a unit of a county or municipal corporation. “Employee” does not include an employee who is on probationary status upon entry into a fire fighting, rescue, paramedic, or emergency medical services agency. “Final decision” means a final disciplinary decision of a personnel board, trial board, civil service commission, or statutorily established review board by which an employee is suspended for not less than 30 consecutive days or is terminated. “Final decision” does not include a decision reached through arbitration under a collective bargaining agreement.

An employee, county, or municipal corporation aggrieved by a final decision may obtain judicial review of that decision through an appeal filed in a circuit court of appropriate venue. An appeal under subsection (a) of this section shall be taken in accordance with Maryland Rules 7–201 through 7–210. Any party that is aggrieved by a final judgment of a circuit court under this subtitle may appeal to the Appellate Court of Maryland in the manner provided by law. In an appeal under subsection (a) of this section, the circuit court may: remand the case for further proceedings; affirm the final decision; or reverse or modify the decision if any substantial right of the petitioner may have been prejudiced because a finding, conclusion, or decision: is unconstitutional; exceeds the statutory authority or jurisdiction of the final decision maker; results from an unlawful practice; is affected by any other error of law; is unsupported by competent, material, and substantial evidence in light of the entire record as submitted; or is arbitrary and capricious.

An employee may elect to exercise the rights available under the collective bargaining agreement as an alternative to the right to a judicial review provided under this subtitle.