EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW. [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law. *hb0533* HOUSE BILL 533 P3, C2, J2 2lr1659 CF SB 523 By: Delegates Pena–Melnyk, B. Barnes, Lehman, Love, Shetty, Terrasa, and Valentino–Smith Introduced and read first time: January 21, 2022 Assigned to: Economic Matters A BILL ENTITLED AN ACT concerning 1 Occupations and Professions – Licenses, Certificates, and Registration – 2 Immigrants 3 FOR the purpose of prohibiting a State occupational or professional licensing board from 4 denying an occupational or professional license, certification, or registration to an 5 immigrant if the individual meets certain requirements; and generally relating to 6 occupational and professional licenses, certifications, or registrations to immigrants. 7 BY adding to 8 Article – State Government 9 Section 8–506 10 Annotated Code of Maryland 11 (2021 Replacement Volume) 12 SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13 That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14 Article – State Government 15 8–506. 16 (A) IN THIS SECTION, “IMMIGRANT” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL : 17 (1) WHOSE COUNTRY OF ORI GIN IS A COUNTRY OTH ER THAN THE 18 UNITED STATES; 19 (2) WHO IS NOT A CITIZEN OF THE UNITES STATES; AND 20 (3) WHO IS A RESIDENT OF THE STATE. 21 2 HOUSE BILL 533 (B) A STATE OCCUPATIONAL OR PROF ESSIONAL LICENSING B OARD MAY 1 NOT DENY AN OCCUPATI ONAL OR PROFESSIONAL LICENSE, CERTIFICATION , OR 2 REGISTRATION TO AN I MMIGRANT IF THE INDI VIDUAL OTHERWISE MEE TS ALL 3 EDUCATIONAL , TRAINING, OR PROFESSIONAL REQU IREMENTS FOR LICENSU RE, 4 CERTIFICATION, OR REGISTRATION . 5 SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 6 October 1, 2022. 7