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*hb0829*
HOUSE BILL 829
C5, R2, E4 (6lr1753)
ENROLLED BILL
— Environment and Transportation/Finance —
Introduced by Delegates Ebersole, Allen, Boyce, Fair, A. Johnson, S. Johnson,
Patterson, Solomon, Stinnett, and Wolek
Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
_______ day of _______________ at ________________________ o’clock, ________M.
______________________________________________
Speaker.
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Public Utilities – For–Hire Drivers and Transportation Network Operators – 2
Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Training and Liability 3
FOR the purpose of requiring an applicant for certain for –hire driver’s licenses and 4
transportation network operator’s licenses to submit to the Public Service 5
Commission documentation verifying that the applicant completed a certain human 6
trafficking awareness training program; prohibiting licensed taxicab drivers, 7
for–hire drivers, or transportation network operators and applicants for a 8
transportation network operator’s license from being held civilly or criminally liable 9
for reporting or responding to in good faith a suspected incident of human trafficking; 10
prohibiting a transportation network company from allowing certain applicants for 11
and holders of a transportation network operator’s license to provide transportation 12
network services using a digital network application if the applicant or license holder 13
2 HOUSE BILL 829
has not completed a certain human trafficking awareness training program ; and 1
generally relating to for–hire drivers and transportation network operators. 2
BY renumbering 3
Article – Public Utilities 4
Section 10–404(g) and (h) 5
to be Section 10–404(h) and (i), respectively 6
Annotated Code of Maryland 7
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 8
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
Article – Public Utilities 10
Section 10–103(b), 10–104(a)(1), 10–104.1(b), and 10–106, and 10–404(b) and (c) 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 13
BY adding to 14
Article – Public Utilities 15
Section 10–104.2 and 10–404(g) 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 18
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 19
That Section(s) 10 –404(g) and (h) of Article – Public Utilities of the Annotated Code of 20
Maryland be renumbered to be Section(s) 10–404(h) and (i), respectively. 21
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 22
as follows: 23
Article – Public Utilities 24
10–103. 25
(b) (1) A county or municipal corporation may license taxicab drivers who 26
drive taxicabs that are based in that county or municipal corporation if, at a minimum, the 27
county or municipal corporation: 28
(I) conducts a criminal record check [and] OF EACH APPLICANT 29
FOR A LICENSE; 30
(II) CONDUCTS A driving record check of each applicant for a license; 31
AND 32
(III) REQUIRES THAT EACH APPLICANT FOR A LICENSE INCLUDE 33
IN THE APPLICATION D OCUMENTATION VERIFYI NG T HAT THE APPLICANT 34
HOUSE BILL 829 3
COMPLETED A HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS TRAINING IN ACCORDANCE WITH 1
§ 10–104.2 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 2
(2) A taxicab driver licensed by a county or municipal corporation is not 3
required to be licensed by the Commission. 4
10–104. 5
(a) (1) An applicant for a for–hire driver’s license shall: 6
(i) submit to the Commission a completed application on the form 7
that the Commission provides; 8
(ii) state on the form that the applicant is applying for a 9
passenger–for–hire driver’s license or a taxicab driver’s license; 10
(iii) pay to the Commission an application fee set by the Commission; 11
(iv) 1. if the applicant is a Maryland driver, allow the 12
Commission access to the driver’s photograph through the Motor Vehicle Administration; 13
or 14
2. file with the application a recent photograph in a format 15
that the Commission specifies; [and] 16
(v) SUBMIT TO THE COMMISSION DOCUMENTATION VERIFYING 17
THAT THE APPLICANT C OMPLETED A HUMAN TRA FFICKING AWARENESS TRAINING 18
IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 10–104.2 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 19
(VI) apply to the Criminal Justice Information System Central 20
Repository of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services for a State 21
criminal history records check as provided in subsection (b) of this section. 22
10–104.1. 23
(b) The Commission may approve an applicant and issue a temporary driver’s 24
license to the applicant if: 25
(1) the applicant provides all information that the Commission requires for 26
the application, including the information specified in item (2) of this subsection; [and] 27
(2) the Commission is satisfied with the successful submission of the 28
applicant’s: 29
(i) national criminal history records check: 30
4 HOUSE BILL 829
1. conducted by a consumer reporting agency as defined 1
under § 14 –1201 of the Commercial Law A rticle or a comparable entity approved by the 2
Commission; and 3
2. that includes: 4
A. a Multi –State Multi –Jurisdiction Criminal Records 5
Database Search or a search of a similar nationwide database with validation; 6
B. a search of the Sex Offender Registry; and 7
C. a search of the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Sex 8
Offender Public website; and 9
(ii) driving record check that includes a driving history research 10
report; AND 11
(3) THE APPLICANT SUBMITS TO THE COMMISSION DOCUMENTATION 12
VERIFYING THAT THE APPLICANT COMPLETED A HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS 13
TRAINING IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 10–104.2 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 14
10–104.2. 15
(A) AN APPLICANT FOR A LI CENSE ISSUED IN ACCO RDANCE WITH § 16
10–103(B) OF THIS SUBTITLE OR UNDER § 10–104, § 10–104.1, OR § 10–106 OF THIS 17
SUBTITLE OR § 10–404 OF THIS TITLE SHALL INCLUDE IN THE APPLICATION 18
DOCUMENTATION VERIFYING THAT THE APPLICANT COMPLETED: 19
(1) (I) THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION’S LEADERS 20
AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING/COMBATTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE 21
TRANSPORTATION AWARENESS TRAINING; OR 22
(II) (2) ANY NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HUMAN TRAFFICKING 23
AWARENESS TRAINING PROGRAM; AND. 24
(2) (B) A A HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION PROGRAM T HAT 25
PROVIDES AWARENESS TRAINING T HAT AN APPLICANT COM PLETES UNDER 26
SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION MUST INCLUDE INFORMATION ON HOW TO: 27
(I) (1) RECOGNIZE POTENTIAL VICTIMS OF HUMAN 28
TRAFFICKING; 29
(II) (2) RESPOND TO AN INDIVI DUAL WHO MAY BE OR I S A 30
VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; AND 31
HOUSE BILL 829 5
(III) (3) CONNECT AN INDIVIDUAL WHO MAY BE OR IS A VICTIM 1
OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING WITH AVAILABLE RESOU RCES REPORT SUSPECTED 2
INCIDENTS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING TO APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES. 3
(B) (C) A LICENSED TAXICAB DRI VER, OR FOR–HIRE DRIVER , OR 4
TRANSPORTATION NETWORK OPERATOR MAY NOT BE HELD CIVILLY OR CRIMINALLY 5
LIABLE FOR REPORTING OR RESPONDING IN GOO D FAITH TO A SUSPECT ED 6
INCIDENT OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. 7
10–106. 8
(a) The term of a for –hire driver’s license is not less than 1 year and not more 9
than 3 years, as the Commission sets. 10
(b) (1) An applicant for a renewal of a for–hire driver’s license shall: 11
(I) submit to the Commission an application on the form that the 12
Commission provides; AND 13
(II) INCLUDE IN THE APPLICATION DOCU MENTATION 14
VERIFYING THAT THE APPLICANT COMPLETED A HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS 15
TRAINING IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 10–104.2 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 16
(2) The Commission may renew the for–hire driver’s license by appropriate 17
endorsement on the license. 18
(c) The Commission shall keep on file with the origi nal application of a driver a 19
complete record of: 20
(1) each for–hire driver’s license issued to the driver; and 21
(2) any renewal, suspension, and revocation of a for –hire driver’s license 22
issued to the driver. 23
10–404. 24
(b) The Commission may approve an applicant to be an operator and issue a 25
temporary transportation network operator’s license to the applicant if: 26
(1) the applicant provides all information that the Commission requires for 27
the application, including the information specified in item (2) of this subsection; [and] 28
(2) the Commission is satisfied with the successful submission of the 29
applicant’s: 30
6 HOUSE BILL 829
(i) national criminal history records check: 1
1. conducted by a consumer reporting agency as defined 2
under § 14 –1201 of the Commercial Law Article or a comparable entity approved by the 3
Commission; and 4
2. that includes: 5
A. a Multi –State Multi –Jurisdiction Criminal Records 6
Database Search or a search of a similar nationwide database with validation; 7
B. a search of the Sex Offender Registry; and 8
C. a search of the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Sex 9
Offender Public Website; and 10
(ii) driving record check that includes a driving history research 11
report; AND 12
(3) THE APPLICANT SUBMITS TO THE COMMISSION DOCUMENTATION 13
VERIFYING THAT THE APPLICANT COMPLETED A HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS 14
TRAINING IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 10–104.2 OF THIS TITLE. 15
(c) Subject to subsection (d) of this section, the Commission may issue a 16
permanent transportation network operator’ s license to an applicant [upon] ON the 17
submission of: 18
(1) a satisfactory supplemental criminal background check as set forth 19
under § 10–104(b) of this title; AND 20
(2) DOCUMENTATION VERIFYING THAT THE APPLICANT COMPLETED 21
A HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS TRAINING IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 10–104.2 OF 22
THIS TITLE. 23
(G) AN APPLICANT FOR THE RENEWAL OF A TRANSPO RTATION NETWORK 24
OPERATOR’S LICENSE SHALL SUBM IT TO THE COMMISSION DOCUMENTAT ION 25
VERIFYING THAT THE APPLICANT COMPLETED A HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS 26
TRAINING IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 10–104.2 OF THIS TITLE. 27
(G) (1) THIS SUBSECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO: 28
(I) SUBMITTED AN APPLICA TION FOR A TRANSPORT ATION 29
NETWORK OPERATOR’S LICENSE ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 30, 2026; AND 30
HOUSE BILL 829 7
(II) COMPLETED, BETWEEN JULY JUNE 1, 2025, AND 1
SEPTEMBER NOVEMBER 30, 2026, A HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS TRAINING 2
THAT MEETS THE REQUI REMENTS OF PARAGRAPH S (2) AND (3) OF THIS 3
SUBSECTION. 4
(2) A TRANSPORTATION NETWO RK COMPANY MAY NOT A LLOW AN 5
APPLICANT FOR A TRANSPORTATION NETWO RK OPERATOR ’S LICENSE OR THE 6
HOLDER OF A TEMPORAR Y OR PERMANENT TRANS PORTATION NETWORK 7
OPERATOR’S LICENSE TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK SERVICES USING A 8
DIGITAL NETWORK APPL ICATION UNLESS THE A PPLICANT OR LICENSE HOLDER, 9
WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE APPLI CANT OR LICENSE HOLD ER FIRST PROVIDES A 10
PREARRANGED RIDE, HAS COMPLETED: 11
(I) THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION’S LEADERS 12
AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING/COMBATTING TRAFFICKING/COMBATING HUMAN 13
TRAFFICKING IN THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR AWARENESS TRAINING; 14
(II) ANY NATIONALLY RECOG NIZED HUMAN TRAFFICK ING 15
AWARENESS TRAINING PROGRAM; OR 16
(III) ANY DIGITAL TRAINING DEVELOPED BY A TRANSPORTATION 17
NETWORK COMPANY IN C ONSULTATION WITH A N ATIONALLY RECOGNIZED 18
ORGANIZATION WITH EXPERTISE IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS TRAINING. 19
(3) A HUMAN TRAFFICKING AW ARENESS TRAINING THA T AN 20
APPLICANT OR LICENSE HOLDER COMPLETES UND ER PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS 21
SUBSECTION MUST INCLUDE INFORMATION ON HOW TO: 22
(I) RECOGNIZE POTENTIAL VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; 23
(II) RESPOND TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO MAY BE OR IS A VICTIM OF 24
HUMAN TRAFFICKING; AND 25
(III) CONNECT AN INDIVIDUA L WHO MAY BE OR IS A VICTIM 26
REPORT SUSPECTED INC IDENTS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING WITH AVAILABLE 27
RESOURCES TO APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES. 28
(4) AN APPLICANT FOR A TR ANSPORTATION NETWORK OPERATOR’S 29
LICENSE OR THE HOLDE R OF A TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT TRANSPORTA TION 30
NETWORK OPERATOR’S LICENSE MAY NOT BE HELD CIVILLY OR CRIMINALLY LIABLE 31
FOR REPORTING OR RES PONDING IN GOOD FAIT H TO A SUSPECTED INC IDENT OF 32
HUMAN TRAFFICKING. 33
8 HOUSE BILL 829
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 1
October 1, 2026. 2
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.