MD HB1420

Requires criminal history records checks (both state and national via fingerprints) for license and certificate applicants across 12 Maryland health occupations boards, including Acupuncture, Dental Examiners, Dietetic Practice, Morticians and Funeral Directors, Nursing, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy Examiners, Podiatric Medical Examiners, Psychologists, Environmental Health Specialists, and Residential Child Care Program Professionals.

Establishes implementation dates beginning July 1, 2027, for most new applicants, with individuals licensed before that date required to submit to a criminal history records check at their first renewal after January 1, 2028.

Applicants must submit fingerprints to the Criminal Justice Information System Central Repository, pay the fee authorized under § 10-221(b)(7) of the Criminal Procedure Article for Maryland criminal history records, and pay the FBI's mandatory processing fee for national records checks.

Criminal history record information obtained is confidential, may not be redisseminated, and may only be used for licensing purposes; boards must consider factors such as age at the time of the crime, circumstances, time elapsed, subsequent work history, and character references when evaluating criminal records.

Boards may not issue, renew, or reinstate a license or certificate until the required criminal history record information has been received, and the Central Repository must provide revised criminal history information to boards if new records are reported after the initial check.