COVID-19 UPDATES
https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/
Minimum Wage: The minimum wage in Maryland will increase. On Jan. 1, the rate will go up to $12.50 for people working for employers who have 15 or more employees. It will increase to $12.20 for those working for employers with 14 or fewer employees.
Organ Donation: Maryland residents who choose to be organ donors while registering for their drivers’ licenses on or after July 1, 2022 will have the option to decide if they would like their organs to go to research and education or to transplantation and therapy. Motor vehicle administration locations must provide drivers with information about each choice. Any organs donated before July 1 from previously registered donors can only be used for transplantation or therapy.
Genetic Counselors: A new law requires the Maryland Board of Physicians to license genetic counselors and to establish a Genetic Counseling Advisory Committee within the board. Genetic counselors give patients and families information about genetic testing and how genetic conditions could affect them.
Bereavement Leave
SB473: Requires employers with 15 or more employees to allow workers to use any earned pay leave for bereavement leave for an immediate family member.
Remote Signing of Wills and Powers of attorney and advance directives
HB1261: Allows wills, powers of attorney and advance directives to be authorized electronically and witnessed remotely.
Police reform
SB178: Allows certain people to review disciplinary records of law enforcement agents for misconduct, internal affairs investigations, hearings and disciplinary decisions for review under the Maryland Public Information Act. It also requires “no-knock” search warrants to first be approved in writing by a police supervisor and the State’s Attorney Office, and executed only between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., absent critical circumstances.
SB600: Requires law enforcement to report any “potential police-involved death” of a civilian to a new independent investigative unit in the Maryland Attorney General’s Office.
