<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".21" citation="COMAR 14.27.02.21" title_num="14" subtitle_num="27" chapter_num="02" heading="Employee Grievances.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>This regulation does not apply to the following:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Assistant attorneys general and all other attorneys on the staff of the Attorney General assigned to the Service, including the counsel to the Service;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Individuals who are subject to collective bargaining agreements which include other grievance procedures; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Senior management employees of the Service who report directly to the Director.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>In this regulation, a grievance is a cause of complaint not otherwise provided for by law, regulation, or policy, arising between an employee and the Service over the interpretation and application of Service's regulations, rules, or policies.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Grievance Policy.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Board shall adopt a grievance policy.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The grievance policy:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Shall provide for a multi-step process for resolving an employee's grievance;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Shall include the opportunity for the employee to submit a written appeal to the Office of Administrative Hearings in accordance with the policy; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Shall provide that grievance hearings and related activities be conducted during regular working hours, without loss of pay to the aggrieved employee.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>An employee may present a grievance free from interference, coercion, restraint, discrimination, or reprisal.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>