<section article="gsf" article_name="State Finance and Procurement" number="18-101" title_number="18" title_name="Living Wage" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>“Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Labor and Industry.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>“Employer” means a contractor or subcontractor that has a State contract for services valued at $100,000 or more.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“Employer” does not include a contractor or subcontractor that:</text> <level label="i"> <text>employs 10 or fewer employees; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>has a State contract for services valued at less than $500,000.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>“Living wage” means an hourly wage set as provided under § 18–103 of this title.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>“Tier 1 area” includes Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Howard County, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, and Baltimore City.</text> </level> <level label="f"> <text>“Tier 2 area” includes any county in the State not included in the Tier 1 area.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gsf" article_name="State Finance and Procurement" number="18-102" title_number="18" title_name="Living Wage" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>This title applies to an employee of an employer for the duration of a contract subject to this title if at least one–half of the employee’s time during any workweek relates to a State contract for services or a subcontract for services under a State contract.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>This title does not apply to an employee of an employer if the employee:</text> <level label="i"> <text>is 17 years of age or younger for the duration of a contract subject to this title; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>works less than 13 consecutive weeks for the duration of a contract subject to this title and during that period works full time.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>This title does not apply to a contract:</text> <level label="1"> <text>for services needed immediately to prevent or respond to an imminent threat to public health or safety;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>with a public service company;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>with a nonprofit organization;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>between units; or</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>between a unit and a county or Baltimore City.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>If the unit responsible for a State contract determines that application of this title would conflict with any applicable federal program requirement, this title does not apply to the contract or program.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The head of the unit responsible for a State contract subject to this title shall determine if contract services valued at 50% or more of the total value of the contract will be performed in the Tier 1 area or the Tier 2 area and shall provide that determination on the invitation for a bid.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gsf" article_name="State Finance and Procurement" number="18-103" title_number="18" title_name="Living Wage" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, an employer subject to this title shall pay each employee covered under this title:</text> <level label="1"> <text>at least $11.30 per hour, if State contract services valued at 50% or more of the total value of the contract are performed in the Tier 1 area; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>at least $8.50 per hour, if State contract services valued at 50% or more of the total value of the contract are performed in the Tier 2 area.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>Not later than 90 days after the start of each fiscal year, the Commissioner shall adjust the wage rates required under subsection (a) of this section by the annual average increase or decrease, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers for the Washington Metropolitan Area, or any successor index, for the previous calendar year.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>If the Commissioner adjusts the wage rates in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Commissioner shall publish the new wage rates on the Division of Labor and Industry’s website.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>On request by any person, the Commissioner shall give the person a printed copy of the new wage rates.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>If an employer commits in its bid or proposal to provide health insurance to an employee, either directly or through an employee representative, the employer may:</text> <level label="1"> <text>certify in its bid or proposal the hourly cost of the employer’s share of the premium for that insurance for each employee; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>reduce the wage rate paid under subsection (a) of this section to any employee covered by the insurance by all or part of the hourly cost of the employer’s share of the premium for each employee.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The Commissioner may authorize, by regulation, an employer to reduce the wage rates paid under subsection (a) of this section by no more than 50 cents of the hourly cost of the employer’s contribution to an employee’s deferred compensation plan.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gsf" article_name="State Finance and Procurement" number="18-104" title_number="18" title_name="Living Wage" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>The Commissioner shall adopt regulations governing employers subject to this title.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The Commissioner may require that an employer keep records and submit reports to the Commissioner that the Commissioner determines necessary for the effective administration and enforcement of this title.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The Commissioner every 3 years shall assess the appropriateness of:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the measures used to adjust the wage rates under § 18–103(b) of this subtitle to ensure that the measures accurately reflect the wage rates of employees in the Tier 1 area and Tier 2 area of the State; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the placement of counties in the Tier 1 area and Tier 2 area.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gsf" article_name="State Finance and Procurement" number="18-105" title_number="18" title_name="Living Wage" subtitle_number="1"> <text>An agreement by an employee to commute, release, or waive the employee’s rights under this title is void.</text> </section> <section article="gsf" article_name="State Finance and Procurement" number="18-106" title_number="18" title_name="Living Wage" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>During any period in which an employee of the employer is entitled to a wage rate under this title, each employer subject to this title shall post in a prominent and easily accessible place at the work site of an employee described in § 18–102(a) of this title a notice of:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the living wage rate;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>employee rights under this title; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>the name, address, and telephone number of the Commissioner.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The notice under this section shall be:</text> <level label="1"> <text>developed by the Commissioner in English, Spanish, and any other language commonly used by employees at a work site; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <level label="i"> <text>on request of an employer, provided without charge to the employer; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>made available for download on the Internet without charge.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>Subject to § 10–1001 of the State Government Article, the Commissioner may impose on a person that violates this section a civil penalty not exceeding $50 per violation.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gsf" article_name="State Finance and Procurement" number="18-107" title_number="18" title_name="Living Wage" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>Within 30 days after a complaint is filed, the Commissioner shall investigate the complaint in accordance with this title.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A written or oral complaint or statement made by an employee under this title is confidential and may not be disclosed to the employer without the consent of the employee.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>An employer subject to this title shall allow the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee access to a work site and payroll records, and allow an opportunity to interview employees for purposes of enforcing this title.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>Within 30 days after completing an investigation, the Commissioner shall issue an order for a hearing.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Within 30 days before the hearing, the Commissioner shall serve, personally or by mail, written notice of the hearing on all interested parties.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>The notice shall include:</text> <level label="i"> <text>a statement of facts disclosed in the investigation; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the time and place of the hearing.</text> </level> </level> <level label="4"> <text>In conducting a hearing, the Commissioner may:</text> <level label="i"> <text>subpoena witnesses;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>administer oaths; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>compel the production of records, books, papers, and other evidence.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <level label="1"> <text>Within 30 days after the conclusion of the hearing, the Commissioner shall:</text> <level label="i"> <text>issue a determination; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>serve, personally or by mail, each interested party with a copy of the determination.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>If the Commissioner finds a violation of this title, the Commissioner shall determine the amount of restitution and liquidated damages to be assessed under § 18–108 of this title.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>On receipt of the determination, the employer shall pay the affected employees the amount due in accordance with the Commissioner’s determination.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gsf" article_name="State Finance and Procurement" number="18-108" title_number="18" title_name="Living Wage" subtitle_number="1"> <text>If the Commissioner determines that the employer violated a provision of this title or regulations of the Commissioner, the employer shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>pay restitution to each affected employee; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>pay to the State liquidated damages of $20 per day for each employee who was paid less than the hourly rate required under this title.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gsf" article_name="State Finance and Procurement" number="18-109" title_number="18" title_name="Living Wage" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>If an employee was paid less than the wage rate required under this title the employee is entitled to sue to recover the amount of the difference between the wage rate required under this title and the amount received by the employee.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A determination by the Commissioner that an employer is required to make restitution does not preclude an employee from filing an action under this section.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>An action under this section is considered to be a suit for wages.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A judgment in an action under this section shall have the same force and effect as any other judgment for wages.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The failure of an employee to protest orally or in writing the payment of a wage that is less than the wage rate required under this title is not a bar to recovery in an action under this section.</text> </level> </section>