(a)      This section applies to all employees of all units in the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative branches of State government, including all units with independent personnel systems except for the Department of Transportation and the University System of Maryland.

      (b)      During any stage of a State employee's complaint, grievance, or other administrative or legal action that concerns State employment, the employee may not be subjected to coercion, discrimination, interference, reprisal, or restraint by or initiated on behalf of the employer solely as a result of that employee's pursuit of the grievance, complaint, or action.

      (c)      A State employee may not intentionally take or assist in taking an act of coercion, discrimination, interference, reprisal, or restraint against another employee solely as a result of that employee's pursuit of a grievance, complaint, or other administrative or legal action that concerns State employment.

      (d)      An employee who violates subsection (c) of this section is subject to disciplinary action, including the termination of State employment.