This section does not apply to: an elected official; the head of a unit of a county or municipality who reports directly to: the chief administrative officer of the county or municipality; an elected executive; or the governing body of the county or municipality; or the chief administrative officer of the county or municipality. Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a county or municipality may not require an employee to reside in the State, county, or municipality or within a specified distance of the State, county, or municipality as a condition of employment. A county or municipality may require an at–will supervisory employee to reside in the State, county, or municipality or within a specified distance of the State, county, or municipality as a condition of employment if the at–will supervisory employee reports directly to the head of a unit of the county or municipality. Subject to subsection (c) of this section, when making employment, promotion, demotion, layoff, and discharge decisions, a county or municipality may not discriminate based on an individual’s place of residence. A county or municipality may grant a resident of the State, county, or municipality additional points or credits in employment or promotion decisions if the points or credits are provided in accordance with a merit system established by the county or municipality by local law or ordinance. An agency created under State law that provides governmental services to more than one county or municipality may not require an employee, as a condition of employment, to reside in the State or a county or municipality or within a specified distance of the State, a county, or a municipality for which the agency provides governmental services.

This section applies to the following governmental entities: counties; municipalities; special taxing districts; and regional governmental entities created by State law that provide services in more than one county. A governmental entity may not issue an identification card on which an employee’s Social Security number is visible.

This section applies to the following governmental entities: counties; municipalities; bicounty agencies; county boards of education; public corporations; special taxing districts; and other political subdivisions of the State. Each governmental entity shall give its employees who return from service in the uniformed services the same reemployment rights as provided for State employees under Title 2, Subtitle 7 of the State Personnel and Pensions Article.

In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. “Eligible spouse” has the meaning stated in § 7–207 of the State Personnel and Pensions Article. “Eligible veteran” has the meaning stated in § 7–207 of the State Personnel and Pensions Article. If a county or municipality uses a selection test for the hiring or appointment of employees, the county or municipality may adopt a local law that allows for the application of a credit of 10 points, or its equivalent, on a selection test for: an eligible spouse; an eligible veteran; the spouse of an eligible veteran who has a service–connected disability; or the surviving spouse of a deceased eligible veteran. A local law adopted under paragraph (1) of this subsection: may allow for the application of a credit of two additional points, or its equivalent, on any selection test for a former prisoner of war; and if necessary, shall clarify the application of any special credit applied under § 1–205 of this subtitle. The following applicants are ineligible for a credit under this subsection: a current employee of a county or municipality; and an eligible veteran who is convicted of a crime after being discharged from or completing service in the uniformed services.

If a municipality, county, or other political subdivision of the State makes appointments to government positions under a civil service or merit system law or ordinance, the unit that provides eligibility lists for appointments shall adopt rules or regulations to grant special credit to honorably discharged veterans who have been residents of the State for at least 5 years immediately preceding the date on which the veteran takes a merit system examination. The unit may determine the nature and extent of the special credit granted to veterans. The unit may grant a greater credit to veterans with a disability than to veterans who do not have a disability. The credit granted to a veteran under this section may be extended to: the spouse of a veteran if the veteran is unable to qualify for merit system appointment because of a disability; and the unmarried surviving spouse of a deceased veteran. In this subsection, “health emergency” includes: a national emergency declared by the President of the United States under the National Emergencies Act; an emergency or major disaster declared by the President of the United States under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act; a public health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under 42 U.S.C. § 247d; and a catastrophic health emergency declared by the Governor under § 14–3A–02 of the Public Safety Article. The unit may exempt war or health emergency veterans under the age of 55 years from any age limitation or requirement.

Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a county or municipality may: pay the wage of an employee by direct deposit as provided in subsection (b) of this section; and require an employee to receive the payment of wages by direct deposit as a condition of employment. A county or municipality may not require the payment of wages by direct deposit for an employee: who was hired before October 1, 2011, unless the county or municipality before October 1, 2011, required, by local law, regulation, or collective bargaining agreement, the payment of wages by direct deposit; whose employment is not conditioned on the employee receiving the payment of wages by direct deposit; or who does not have a personal bank account; and who informs the employee’s employer that the employee wishes to opt out of direct deposit. If a county or municipality elects to pay wages by direct deposit, an employee who is not required to receive the payment of wages by direct deposit may elect to receive the payment of wages by direct deposit in accordance with subsection (c) of this section. If a county or municipality elects to pay the wages of its employees by direct deposit, the county or municipality shall: provide an employee who is required or elects to receive the payment of wages by direct deposit with an electronic fund transfer authorization form; deposit the wage of an employee into a personal bank account selected by the employee on the electronic fund transfer authorization form; and each time the county or municipality pays the wage of an employee by direct deposit, provide the employee with a direct deposit statement that includes: the total amount of the wage; any amount deducted from the wage; and the amount of the wage directly deposited into the personal bank account selected by the employee. An employee who is required or elects to receive the payment of wages by direct deposit shall: complete and submit to the county or municipality the electronic fund transfer authorization form provided to the employee under subsection (b) of this section; and select a personal bank account for the direct deposit of the employee’s wages that is at a financial institution that participates in the automated clearinghouse network. Subject to paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection, an employee may change the personal bank account or the financial institution designated on an electronic fund transfer authorization form by completing and submitting to the county or municipality a new electronic fund transfer authorization form.

In this section, “telework” means to work at a location other than a traditional office setting or an employee’s usual and customary work site, including: the employee’s home; a satellite office; and a telework center. This section applies to: all employees of a governmental entity of a county or a municipality; and all governmental entities of a county or a municipality. Each governing body, or the governing body’s designee, shall: establish a countywide or municipality–wide telework program; and adopt a countywide or municipality–wide telework policy and telework guidelines. The head of a governmental entity of a county or municipality may designate the positions for which an employee would be eligible to telework. Each governmental entity of a county or municipality, in its discretion, may maximize the number of eligible employees participating in a countywide or municipality–wide telework program established under subsection (c) of this section.

This section applies to all employees of a governmental unit of a county or a municipality in the State. Subject to subsections (c) through (e) of this section, each governmental unit may provide disaster service leave with pay to employees subject to this section. On request, an employee subject to this section may be entitled to disaster service leave with pay if: the employee is certified by the American Red Cross as a disaster service volunteer; and the American Red Cross requests the services of the employee during a disaster that is designated at Level II or above in the regulations and procedures of the National Office of the American Red Cross; or the employee is a member of: the Civil Air Patrol; the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary; Maryland Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster; a volunteer emergency medical services department; a volunteer fire department; a volunteer rescue company or volunteer rescue squad; or a Community Emergency Response Team. An employee may use up to 30 days of disaster service leave in any 12–month period only after obtaining approval from the employee’s governmental unit. During a prolonged or recurrent disaster, the employee’s governmental unit may: waive the requirements under subsections (c) and (d) of this section that an employee must request and obtain approval before the employee may use disaster service leave, if waiving the requirement would be in the best interest of the citizens of the county or municipality; and increase the number of days of disaster service leave under subsection (d) of this section that an employee may use, if an increase in leave would be in the best interest of the citizens of the county or municipality.

In this section, “uniformed services” has the meaning stated in 38 U.S.C. § 4303 and 20 C.F.R. § 1002.5(o). This section applies to all employees of a governmental unit of a county or a municipality in the State. Each governmental unit may provide leave with pay: for jury service; to attend employee organization events approved for this purpose by the head of the governmental unit; for up to 30 days for uniformed services training or active uniformed services duty in a reserve unit of the armed forces or in the organized militia; unless the employee is a party to the action or a paid witness, to appear in compliance with a subpoena: in court; before a grand jury; before an administrative unit; or for a deposition; for administrative leave for the purpose of immediately removing an employee from the work site, if the employee: poses a threat to self, another individual, or county or municipal property; or is incapable of properly performing the employee’s duties because of extraordinary circumstances; and for any other paid leave the head of a governmental unit considers necessary.