WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                           Ch. 10

REVISOR'S NOTE: This section is new language derived without substantive
change from the first sentence of former Art. 64A, § 55(b).

The introductory phrase "[o]n conclusion of each step of a grievance
proceeding" is added to conform to long-standing Departmental
understanding and administrative practice and to state explicitly that which
only was implied in the former law — i.e., that notice of the disposition of the
grievance proceeding be given at the conclusion of each step.

The requirement that a copy of each grievance and its disposition be filed in
the Secretary's office is deleted. In practice, that procedure is not followed
due to the large number of grievances that are resolved at various steps.
Absent an appeal to Step Three, the Secretary does not act on grievances.

The fifth sentence of former Art. 64A, § 55(e), which required that the
original copy of an appeal must be forwarded to the next step for
consideration, is deleted as unnecessary and inconsistent with long-standing
Departmental understanding and administrative practice.

Defined term: "Grievance" § 10-101

10-302. CONSOLIDATION OF GRIEVANCES.

SIMILAR GRIEVANCES MAY BE CONSOLIDATED AND PROCESSED IN A SINGLE
PROCEEDING.

REVISOR'S NOTE: This section is new language derived without substantive
change from the second sentence of former Art. 64A, § 55(a).

Defined term: "Grievance" § 10-101

10-303. WAIVER OF TIME LIMITATIONS.

THE PARTIES MAY AGREE TO WAIVE ANY TIME LIMITATION SPECIFIED IN THIS
TITLE.

REVISOR'S NOTE: This section is new language derived without substantive
change from the third sentence of former Art. 64A, § 55(e).

10-304. RELEASE TIME AND EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT.

(A)     GRIEVANT'S REPRESENTATIVE.

ON THE INFORMAL PRESENTATION OF A GRIEVANCE OR THE INITIATION OF A
GRIEVANCE PROCEEDING, AN EMPLOYEE DESIGNATED AS A GRIEVANT'S
REPRESENTATIVE MAY NOT LOSE PAY FOR INVESTIGATING, PROCESSING, OR
TESTIFYING AT ANY STAGE OF THE GRIEVANCE PROCEEDING.

(B)     WITNESSES.

AN EMPLOYEE SHALL BE GRANTED RELEASE TIME FROM THE EMPLOYEE'S
NORMAL WORK SCHEDULE TO ATTEND A GRIEVANCE HEARING AS A WITNESS.

(C)     EXPENSES.

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