Job‑share bill would ask agencies to review vacancies for part‑time splits to recruit and retain workers

Delegate Sarah Wallach presented House Bill 520 to the Appropriations Committee, proposing that when a vacancy occurs in the executive branch the hiring agency evaluate whether the position could be performed as a job share and, if so, post the vacancy as both a full‑time job and a job‑share option. The sponsor said the bill does not require agencies to hire a job share; it asks for a lightweight, vacancy‑by‑vacancy review so agencies are not overburdened.

Panelists described workforce participation trends and the potential benefits of job sharing. Monica Schafer (Montgomery County Commission on Aging) said job sharing could attract older workers seeking phased retirement and support cross‑generational mentoring. Karen Lee (SEEK) argued the approach creates employment pathways for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; she said 86 percent of the people SEEK supports started in part‑time roles. Kristen Reagan (former civil servant) described leaving full‑time federal service for caregiving reasons and said job sharing would have made retention easier.

Sponsor amendment language removed a specific HRIS (TriNet) reference after DBM raised technical concerns; Wallach told the committee the Department of Budget and Management had indicated existing processes could accommodate the programmatic review. Witnesses and proponents said job sharing can increase labor force participation and fill vacancies while preserving union bargaining rights. No committee vote was recorded in the provided transcript.