2023 Maryland Statutes › Environment › Title 2 - Ambient Air Quality Control › Subtitle 13 - Maryland Commission on Climate Change › Section 2-1303.1 - Just Transition Employment and Retraining Working Group -- Persons Included -- Chair -- Staffing -- Compensation -- Duties

(a)    In this section, “Working Group” means the Just Transition Employment and Retraining Working Group of the Commission.
(b)    The Commission shall establish a Just Transition Employment and Retraining Working Group.
(c)    The Working Group shall include:
(1)    Two members of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of the Senate;
(2)    Two members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
(3)    The Secretary, or the Secretary’s designee;
(4)    The Secretary of Labor, or the Secretary’s designee;
(5)    The Secretary of Transportation, or the Secretary’s designee;
(6)    One electrical worker, selected by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers;
(7)    One construction laborer, selected by the Baltimore Washington Laborers’ District Council;
(8)    Two representatives of the building and construction trade industry, selected by the Baltimore–DC Metro Building and Construction Trades Council;
(9)    Four labor representatives, three selected by the Maryland State AFL–CIO and one selected by the Mid–Atlantic Pipe Trades Association;
(10)    One representative of the energy efficiency industry, selected by the Secretary;
(11)    Two representatives of environmental organizations, selected by the Governor;
(12)    One representative of the solar energy industry, selected by the Chesapeake Solar and Storage Association;
(13)    One representative of the wind energy industry, selected by the American Clean Power Association;
(14)    One representative of the geothermal energy industry selected by the Maryland Geothermal Association;
(15)    Two representatives of registered apprenticeship sponsors, one selected by the Maryland Chapters of the Associated Builders and Contractors and one selected by the Baltimore–DC Metro Building and Construction Trades Council;
(16)    One community college representative, selected by the Maryland Association of Community Colleges;
(17)    One representative who is a veteran, selected by the Maryland Military Coalition;
(18)    One representative who is a formerly incarcerated individual, selected by the Legal Action Center National H.I.R.E. Networks;
(19)    Two at–large representatives who are women in affected industries, selected by the Governor;
(20)    Two representatives selected by the Maryland State Chapter of the NAACP;
(21)    One heating oil or propane distributor in the State, selected by the Secretary;
(22)    One representative of municipal electric utilities, selected by the Public Service Commission; and
(23)    One representative of investor–owned utilities, selected by the Public Service Commission.
(d)    The Secretary shall designate the chair of the Working Group.
(e)    The Department shall provide staff for the Working Group.
(f)    A member of the Working Group:
(1)    May not receive compensation as a member of the Working Group; but
(2)    Is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.
(g)    The Working Group shall:
(1)    Advise the Commission on issues and opportunities for workforce development and training related to energy efficiency measures, renewable energy, and other clean energy technologies, with specific focus on training and workforce opportunities for:
(i)    Segments of the population that may be underrepresented in the clean energy workforce, such as veterans, women, and formerly incarcerated individuals; and
(ii)    Dislocated workers affected by the downsizing of fossil fuel industries;
(2)    Identify:
(i)    Energy–intensive industries and related trades;
(ii)    Sites of electric generating facilities that may be closed as a result of a transition to renewable energy sources;
(iii)    Sector–specific impacts of the State’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction plan on the State’s current workforce;
(iv)    Avenues to maximize the skills and expertise of Maryland workers in the new energy economy;
(v)    Challenges and opportunities related to minimizing adverse employment and financial impacts on displaced workers and their communities through environmental policies conditioned on the fair distribution of costs and benefits; and
(vi)    Resources necessary to protect workers from economic insecurity, including options for maintaining or supplementing retirement and health care benefits for dislocated workers affected by the downsizing of fossil fuel industries;
(3)    Advise the Commission on the potential impacts of carbon leakage risks on Maryland industries and local host communities, including the impact of any potential greenhouse gas emissions reduction measures on the competitiveness of Maryland businesses and industry; and
(4)    Conduct a study of:
(i)    The number of jobs created to counter climate impacts, including in the energy sector, building sector, transportation sector, and working lands sector;
(ii)    The projected inventory of jobs needed and skills and training required to meet future demand for jobs to counter climate impacts;
(iii)    Workforce disruption due to community changes caused by the transition to a low–carbon economy; and
(iv)    Strategies for targeting workforce development and job creation in fenceline communities that have historically borne the brunt of hosting carbon polluters.
(h)    On or before December 31, 2023, the Working Group shall report to the Commission and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly on the findings of the study required under subsection (g)(4) of this section.