Section 22-207 - Right to communicate(a) Each exclusive representative has the right to communicate with the employees that it represents.(b)(1) Public employers shall allow an exclusive representative to: (i) meet with a new employee in a bargaining unit represented by the exclusive representative within the first full pay period of the new employee's start date; or(ii) attend and participate in a new employee program that includes one or more employees who are in a bargaining unit represented by the exclusive representative.(2) The new employee program described in paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection may be a new employee orientation, training, or other program that the public employer and an exclusive representative negotiate in accordance with Title 6, Subtitle 4 or 5 of the Education Article, Title 16, Subtitle 7 of the Education Article, or Title 3 of the State Personnel and Pensions Article.(3) Except as provided in paragraph (5) of this subsection, the exclusive representative shall be allowed at least 30 minutes to meet with the new employee or to collectively address all new employees in attendance during a new employee program.(4)(i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, a meeting between the new employee and the exclusive representative shall be in person.(ii) An exclusive representative may choose to meet with a new employee by video or similar technology if public health concerns necessitate that a meeting be conducted remotely.(5) A public employer and an exclusive representative may negotiate a period of time that is more than 30 minutes in accordance with Title 6, Subtitle 4 or 5 of the Education Article, Title 16, Subtitle 7 of the Education Article, or Title 3 of the State Personnel and Pensions Article.(6) A public employer:(i) shall encourage an employee to meet with the exclusive representative or attend the portion of a new employee program designated for an exclusive representative to address new employees; and(ii) may not require an employee to meet with an exclusive representative or attend the portion of a new employee program designated for an exclusive representative to address new employees if the employee objects to attending.(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection and subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, a public employer shall provide the exclusive representative at least 10 days' notice of the start date of a new employee in a bargaining unit represented by the exclusive representative.(2) A public employer may provide the exclusive representative with less than 10 days' notice if there is an urgent need critical to the employer that was not reasonably foreseeable.(3) The notice required under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall: (i) be provided electronically to the local president or exclusive representative designee within 5 days of the start of any check-in event the employer obligates the employee to attend;(ii) except as provided in item (iii) of this paragraph, include the new employee's name, unit, and all employee identification numbers, including Workday numbers;(iii) exclude the new employee's Social Security number; and(iv) be considered confidential by an exclusive representative.(4)(i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, an exclusive representative may not disclose the information in a notice.(ii) The exclusive representative may authorize a third-party contractor to use the information in a notice, as directed by the exclusive representative, to fulfill the exclusive representative's statutory duties.Amended by 2024 Md. Laws, Ch. 52,Sec. 1, eff. 7/1/2024.Amended by 2024 Md. Laws, Ch. 51,Sec. 1, eff. 7/1/2024.Added by 2023 Md. Laws, Ch. 114, Sec. 4, eff. 7/1/2023.