Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Maryland General Assembly, fetched 2026-09-25. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. This is the chaptered version. The official bill page.
WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 362
Chapter 362
(House Bill 856)
AN ACT concerning
Local School Systems – Educator Screening – Educator Identification
Clearinghouse
(School Personnel Vetting and Hiring Transparency Act)
FOR the purpose of requiring the State Department of Education to register each local
school system in the State as an associate member of a certain national membership
organization; requiring each local school system in the State to utilize the Educator
Identification Clearinghouse to screen individuals who receive an offer of
employment for an educator position that requires a license and ensure that each
individual who receives an offer applies for and obtains the appropriate license
before certain occurrences; and generally relating to the hiring and screening process
for educators employed within local school systems in the State.
BY adding to
Article – Education
Section 6–103.1
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Education
6–103.1.
(A) IN THIS SECTION, “NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION” MEANS A
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT IS A NATIONAL COLLECTION POINT FOR
PROFESSIONAL DISCIPLINE ACTIONS TAKEN BY ALL 50 STATES, THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY
SCHOOLS, AND GUAM THAT PROVIDES MEMBERS WITH NOTIFICATION OF AN ACTION
TAKEN AGAINST THE CREDENTIAL OF AN EDUCATOR BY OTHER MEMBER STATES OR
JURISDICTIONS.
(B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL:
(1) REGISTER EACH LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE STATE AS AN
ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF A NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES
ACCESS TO THE EDUCATOR IDENTIFICATION CLEARINGHOUSE; AND
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Ch. 362 2026 LAWS OF MARYLAND
(2) PAY ANY APPLICABLE FEES AND DUES ASSOCIATED WITH
MEMBERSHIP IN THE NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION.
(C) EACH LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE STATE SHALL:
(1) UTILIZE THE EDUCATOR IDENTIFICATION CLEARINGHOUSE
THROUGH THE NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION TO SCREEN EACH
INDIVIDUAL WHO RECEIVES, ON OR AFTER OCTOBER AUGUST 1, 2026, AN OFFER OF
EMPLOYMENT FROM THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR AN EDUCATOR POSITION
THAT REQUIRES A LICENSE; AND
(2) ENSURE THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL WHO RECEIVES AN OFFER
SPECIFIED UNDER ITEM (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION:
(I) APPLIES FOR THE APPROPRIATE LICENSE AFTER THE
OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT AND BEFORE THE START OF EMPLOYMENT; AND
(II) OBTAINS THE APPROPRIATE LICENSE BEFORE ANY
INTERACTION WITH CHILDREN.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That nothing in this Act may be
construed to impair or effect the requirements of § 6–113 of the Education Article.
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July
1, 2026.
Approved by the Governor, May 12, 2026.
–2–Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.