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*sb0365*
SENATE BILL 365
C3 6lr2456
By: Senator Waldstreicher
Introduced and read first time: January 23, 2026
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 2, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Security Guards – Certification Renewal – Requirements 2
FOR the purpose of altering certain certification renewal requirements for security guards; 3
repealing a certain certification renewal late fee; repealing the requirement that a 4
licensed security guard agency or security guard employer submit a certain 5
declaration to the Secretary of State Police by a certain date; and generally relating 6
to certification renewal requirements for security guard agencies, security guard 7
employers, and security guards. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 9
Article – Business Occupations and Professions 10
Section 19–101(a) and (j) and 19–401(a) 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2018 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 13
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
Article – Business Occupations and Professions 15
Section 19–404.1 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2018 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 18
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 19
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 20
Article – Business Occupations and Professions 21
2 SENATE BILL 365
19–101. 1
(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 2
(j) “Secretary”, unless the context requires otherwise, means the Secretary of 3
State Police. 4
19–401. 5
(a) Except as provided under subsection (b) of this section, a licensed security 6
guard agency may provide an individual for hire as a security guard only if the individual 7
is certified by the Secretary as a security guard. 8
19–404.1. 9
(a) [By regulation, the Secretary shall stagger the terms of the certifications. 10
(b)] Unless a certification is renewed for a 3–year term as provided in this section, 11
the certification expires on the [date the Secretary sets ] LAST DAY OF THE 12
CERTIFICATION HOLDER’S BIRTH MONTH. 13
(B) (1) AT LEAST 90 DAYS, 60 DAYS, AND 30 DAYS BEFORE A 14
CERTIFICATION EXPIRES, THE SECRETARY SHALL SEND A RENEWAL NOTICE TO A 15
CERTIFICATION HOLDER THAT STATES: 16
(I) THE DATE ON WHICH THE CERTIFICATION EXPIRES; AND 17
(II) THAT THE RENEWAL APP LICATION FOR CERTIFI CATION 18
MUST BE RECEIVED AND ACCEPTED BY THE SECRETARY BEFORE THE DATE THE 19
CERTIFICATION EXPIRES. 20
(2) THE SECRETARY SHALL SEND A RENEWAL NOTICE UND ER 21
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION BY ELECTRONIC MEANS TO THE LAST KNOWN 22
E–MAIL ADDRESS OF THE CERTIFICATION HOLDER. 23
(c) [At least 90 days before] BEFORE a certification expires, the applicant shall 24
submit to the Secretary in the manner and format designated by the Secretary: 25
(1) a renewal application; AND 26
(2) the amount of the renewal fee in a method approved by the Secretary[; 27
and 28
(3) the amount of any late fee, as determined by the Secretary]. 29
SENATE BILL 365 3
(d) An individual periodically may renew the certification for an additional 1
3–year term, if the individual: 2
(1) otherwise is entitled to be certified; 3
(2) pays to the Secretary in a method approved by the Secretary: 4
(i) a renewal fee of $10; AND 5
(ii) payment for the cost of a fingerprint card record check by the 6
Federal Bureau of Investigation; [and 7
(iii) any late fee required under this subtitle;] 8
(3) (i) satisfactorily completes 8 hours of continuing security training 9
that is approved by the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission under § 10
19–412 of this subtitle; and 11
(ii) submits to the Secretary supporting documentation that 12
demonstrates completion of the training; and 13
(4) submits to the Secretary a renewal application in the manner and 14
format designated by the Secretary. 15
(e) [(1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, if a complete application for 16
renewal of certification as required under this subtitle is not received by the Secretary on 17
or before the first business day of the next calendar month immediately following the 18
renewal date, the Secretary shall assess a late fee of $5 per day until the application is 19
received by the Secretary. 20
(2) (i) The Secretary may not charge a late fee under paragraph (1) of 21
this subsection if the applicant did not make timely renewal because of incapacity, 22
hospitalization, being called to active military duty, or other hardship. 23
(3)] The Secretary may not certify an y applicant under this subtitle if the 24
applicant has outstanding [late fee] obligations UNDER THIS SUBTITLE. 25
(f) (1) The Secretary shall renew the certification of each individual who 26
meets the requirements of this section. 27
(2) Within 5 days after the Secretary refuses to renew the certification of 28
an individual as a security guard, the Secretary shall send written notice of the refusal to 29
the individual who submitted the renewal application. 30
4 SENATE BILL 365
[(g) At least 90 days before a certification expires, the licensed security guard 1
agency or security guard employer shall submit a declaration to the Secretary under the 2
penalties of perjury stating whether it knows that a certified security guard who provides 3
security guard services on the security guard agency’ s behalf or for the security guard 4
employer no longer satisfies all of the criteria for certification under § 19 –402 of this 5
subtitle.] 6
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 7
October 1, 2026. 8
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.