(a) The Board is responsible for administering and enforcing provisions of this title relating to employees described in § 3–102(a)(1)(i) through (iv) and (vi) through (xi), (2), and (3) of this title.
(b) In addition to any other powers or duties provided for elsewhere in this title, the Board may:
(1) (i) establish guidelines for creating new bargaining units that include a consideration of:
1. the effect of overfragmentation on the employer;
2. the administrative structures of the State employer;
3. the recommendations of the parties;
4. the recommendations of the Executive Director;
5. the desires of the employees involved;
6. the communities of interest of the employees involved; and
7. the wages, hours, and other working conditions of the employees;
(ii) establish standards for determining an appropriate bargaining unit; and
(iii) investigate and resolve disputes about appropriate bargaining units;
(2) establish procedures for, supervise the conduct of, and resolve disputes about elections for exclusive representatives; and
(3) investigate and take appropriate action in response to complaints of unfair labor practices and lockouts.
(c) (1) The Board may not designate a unique bargaining unit for each of the units of government identified in § 3–102(a)(1)(vi) through (ix) and (2) of this title.
(2) At the request of the exclusive representative, the Board shall:
(i) determine the appropriate existing bargaining unit into which to assign each employee in the units of government identified in § 3–102(a)(1)(vi) through (ix) and (2) of this title; and
(ii) accrete all positions to appropriate existing bargaining units.
(3) (i) Notwithstanding Subtitle 4 of this title, at the request of the exclusive representative, the Board shall conduct a self–determination election for each bargaining unit representative for the accreted employees in units of government identified in § 3–102(a)(1)(vi) through (ix) and (2) of this title.
(ii) All elections shall be conducted by secret ballot.
(iii) For each election, the Board shall place the following choices on the ballot:
1. the name of the incumbent exclusive representative; and
2. a provision for “no exclusive representative”.
(d) The Board may designate one or more bargaining units for employees of the Maryland Environmental Service.