§ 1-201. Residency requirements

   (a) Scope of section. -- This section does not apply to:

   (1) an elected official;

   (2) the head of a unit of a county or municipality who reports directly to:

      (i) the chief administrative officer of the county or municipality;

      (ii) an elected executive; or

      (iii) the governing body of the county or municipality; or

   (3) the chief administrative officer of the county or municipality.

(b) In general. --

   (1) A county or municipality may not require an employee to reside in the State, county, or municipality or within a specified distance of the State, county, or municipality as a condition of employment.

   (2) Subject to subsection (c) of this section, when making employment, promotion, demotion, layoff, and discharge decisions, a county or municipality may not discriminate based on an individual's place of residence.

(c) Employment and promotion decisions. -- A county or municipality may grant a resident of the State, county, or municipality additional points or credits in employment or promotion decisions if the points or credits are provided in accordance with a merit system established by the county or municipality by local law or ordinance.

(d) Regional agencies. -- An agency created under State law that provides governmental services to more than one county or municipality may not require an employee, as a condition of employment, to reside in the State or a county or municipality or within a specified distance of the State, a county, or a municipality for which the agency provides governmental services.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 24, § 1-107; 2013, ch. 119, § 2.