(a) Each exclusive representative has the right to communicate with the employees that it represents.
(b) (1) The State, a system institution, Morgan State University, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and Baltimore City Community College shall permit an exclusive representative to 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 in paragraph (1) of this subsection may be a new employee orientation, training, or other program that the State, a system institution, Morgan State University, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, or Baltimore City Community College and an exclusive representative negotiate in accordance with § 3–501 of this title.
(3) Except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, the exclusive representative shall be permitted 20 minutes to collectively address all new employees in attendance during a new employee program.
(4) The State, a system institution, Morgan State University, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and Baltimore City Community College and an exclusive representative may negotiate a period of time that is more than 20 minutes in accordance with § 3–501 of this title.
(5) The State, a system institution, Morgan State University, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and Baltimore City Community College:
(i) shall encourage an employee to 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 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, the State, a system institution, Morgan State University, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and Baltimore City Community College shall provide the exclusive representative at least 10 days’ notice in advance of a new employee program.
(2) The State, a system institution, Morgan State University, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and Baltimore City Community College may provide the exclusive representative with less than 10 days’ notice if there is an urgent need critical to the employer’s new employee program that was not reasonably foreseeable.