Section 14-302 - Steps in grievance proceedings; appeal(a) The Secretary of Budget and Management shall provide forms for initiating and processing grievances.(b) The three steps in the grievance proceeding are: (1) The initiation of a grievance proceeding;(2) An appeal to the President; and(3) An appeal to the Secretary of Budget and Management.(c) The parties may agree to bypass any step of the grievance proceeding.(d) Each party to a grievance shall make every effort to resolve the grievance at the lowest level possible.(e) If a grievant fails to appeal a decision in accordance with this title to the next step in the grievance proceeding, the grievant is considered to have accepted the decision.(f) If a grievance is not decided at any step in the grievance proceeding, the grievance is considered as denied and the grievant may appeal to the next step.(g)(1) A grievant may be represented at any time by any person that the grievant chooses.(2) The President, a program director, or a vice president may be represented at any time by an individual designated for that purpose.(3) The President and each program director and vice president shall submit to the Secretary of Budget and Management a list of individuals designated to represent the President, program director, or vice president at each stage of the grievance proceeding.(h) After a finding that wages were withheld in violation of §§ 2-402 and 2-407 of the State Personnel and Pensions Article, the decision maker in a grievance procedure shall award the payment of damages in accordance with § 2-407 of the State Personnel and Pensions Article.Amended by 2023 Md. Laws, Ch. 232, Sec. 1, eff. 10/1/2023.Amended by 2023 Md. Laws, Ch. 231, Sec. 1, eff. 10/1/2023.