HB 448
Department of Legislative Services
Maryland General Assembly
2021 Session
FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE
Third Reader
House Bill 448 (Delegate Harrison)
Health and Government Operations Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
State Government - Legal and Employee Holiday - Juneteenth National Freedom
Day
This bill establishes Juneteenth National Freedom Day as a State legal holiday and State
employee holiday on June 19. The bill also repeals the requirement that the Governor
annually proclaim June 19 as Juneteenth National Freedom Day. The bill takes effect
June 1, 2021.
Fiscal Summary
State Effect: Expenditures (all funds) increase significantly, likely by several
million dollars, beginning in FY 2021, due to overtime expenses related to providing
employees with an additional State employee holiday. Potential minimal increase in public
work contract expenditures due to prevailing wage overtime requirements for legal holidays.
Revenues are not materially affected.
Local Effect: The bill does not directly affect local operations, as local governments are
not required to grant leave to their employees as a result of the bill. Potential minimal
increase in public work expenditures due to prevailing wage overtime requirements for
legal holidays. Revenues are not affected.
Small Business Effect: Minimal.
Analysis
Current Law: Juneteenth National Freedom Day is a commemorative day in the State.
The Governor must annually proclaim June 19 as Juneteenth National Freedom Day.
The State of Maryland recognizes 11 bank holidays, 16 legal holidays and 12 State
employee holidays, as identified in Exhibit 1.
Exhibit 1
Holidays in the State
State
School Bank Legal Employee
Holiday Holiday Holiday Holiday
New Year’s Day X X X X
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday X X X X
February 12 for Lincoln’s Birthday X
Washington’s Birthday* X X X X
March 25 for Maryland Day X
Good Friday X X X
Easter Monday X
Memorial Day X X X X
Independence Day X X X
Labor Day X X X
September 12 for Defenders’ Day X
Columbus Day X X X
General Election Days X X X
Veterans’ Day X X X
Thanksgiving Day X X X X
Day After Thanksgiving Day** X X X
Christmas Day X X X X
*Also known as Presidents’ Day, celebrated on the third Monday of February.
**Also known as American Indian Heritage Day.
Note: Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day are public school holidays, along with primary election
days.
Source: Department of Legislative Services
In general, a State employee who is required to work on an employee holiday receives
compensatory time for that work. An employee not scheduled to work on an employee
holiday, but otherwise required to work on that day, is eligible for compensation at the
regular hourly rate of pay plus time and one-half pay for the number of holiday hours
worked, provided that the employee is eligible to receive cash overtime (i.e., an employee
HB 448/ Page 2
in a 24-hour facility called to report on an employee holiday may be entitled to regular
compensation plus overtime pay).
Except as otherwise provided in the Code of Maryland Regulations, a legal holiday must
be observed on its specified date or if that date falls on a Sunday, on the next Monday after
that date.
State Expenditures: Increasing the number of paid State employee holidays observed in
any given year generally does not directly affect State expenditures for most State agencies,
since regular employee salaries are already budgeted. For agencies whose employees must
work on a holiday, however, there could be a significant fiscal impact.
It is unknown how many State employees will be required to work on this holiday;
however, agencies with 24/7 operations likely experience significant overtime costs. Based
on an analysis of similar legislation, it is estimated that the bill increases expenditures (all
funds) by at least $1.9 million annually beginning in fiscal 2021 for overtime costs for the
Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, the Department of Juvenile
Services, the Maryland Department of Health, the Department of State Police, and the
Department of Natural Resources.
The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), which has an independent
personnel system, establishes employee holidays through regulation instead of by statute.
To the extent that MDOT provides the paid holiday to employees, overtime costs increase
further.
In addition to providing overtime pay, there may be a loss of productivity resulting from
giving employees an additional day off.
Additional Information
Prior Introductions: None.
Designated Cross File: None.
Information Source(s): Judiciary (Administrative Office of the Courts); Maryland State
Department of Education; Maryland Department of Transportation; Anne Arundel and
Baltimore counties; Maryland Municipal League; Department of Legislative Services
HB 448/ Page 3
Fiscal Note History: First Reader - March 12, 2021
rh/mcr Third Reader - March 22, 2021
Analysis by: Elizabeth J. Allison Direct Inquiries to:
(410) 946-5510
(301) 970-5510
HB 448/ Page 4


Statutes affected:
Text - First - State Government - Legal and Employee Holiday - Juneteenth National Freedom Day: 1-865 State Personnel and Pensions, 1-864 State Personnel and Pensions, 1-111 General Provisions, 9-201 State Personnel and Pensions
Text - Third - State Government - Legal and Employee Holiday - Juneteenth National Freedom Day: 1-865 State Personnel and Pensions, 1-864 State Personnel and Pensions, 1-111 General Provisions, 9-201 General Provisions