EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
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SENATE BILL 222
J2 4lr0167
(PRE–FILED) CF 4lr0168
By: Chair, Finance Committee (By Request – Departmental – Health)
Requested: September 13, 2023
Introduced and read first time: January 10, 2024
Assigned to: Finance
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
State Board of Environmental Health Specialists – Quorum, Examination, and 2
Apprenticeships 3
FOR the purpose of clarifying that a quorum of the State Board of Environmental Health 4
Specialists consists of a majority of appointed members; altering the circumstances 5
under which an applicant for licensure is qualified to take the examination by adding 6
completion of an apprenticeship approved by the Board as an alternative to obtaining 7
experience in an environmental health specialist–in–training program; authorizing 8
the Board to approve an examination provider to administer the examination, rather 9
than administering the examination itself; and generally relating to the State Board 10
of Environmental Health Specialists. 11
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 12
Article – Health Occupations 13
Section 21–101(a) 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 16
BY adding to 17
Article – Health Occupations 18
Section 21–101(a–1) 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 21
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 22
Article – Health Occupations 23
Section 21–204(a), 21–301(b)(1), 21–304, and 21–305 24
Annotated Code of Maryland 25
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 26
2 SENATE BILL 222
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2
Article – Health Occupations 3
21–101. 4
(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 5
(A–1) “APPRENTICESHIP ” MEANS A PROGRAM OF T RAINING AND EXPERIEN CE 6
UNDER THE SUPERVISIO N OF A LICENSED ENVI RONMENTAL HEALTH SPE CIALIST 7
THAT IS PART OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A BOARD–APPROVED BACCALAUREA TE 8
DEGREE FROM AN ACCREDITED C OLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY . 9
21–204. 10
(a) A majority of the APPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE Board is a quorum TO DO 11
BUSINESS. 12
21–301. 13
(b) This section does not apply to: 14
(1) An environmental health specialist–in–training PARTICIPATING IN 15
AN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST–IN–TRAINING PROGRAM OR AN 16
INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPA TING IN AN APPRENTIC ESHIP as provided for under § 21–305 of 17
this subtitle; 18
21–304. 19
(a) An applicant who otherwise qualifies for licensure is entitled to be examined 20
as provided in this section. 21
(b) An applicant qualifies to take the examination if the applicant: 22
(1) (i) Has graduated from an accredited college or university with a 23
baccalaureate degree that includes: 24
1. A minimum of 30 semester credit hours or the equivalent 25
quarter credit hours of chemical, physical, biological, and environmental sciences 26
acceptable to the Board; 27
2. A course in mathematics; and 28
3. Laboratory coursework as required in regulations adopted 29
by the Board; and 30 SENATE BILL 222 3
(ii) Has [obtained]: 1
1. OBTAINED 12 months of experience in an environmental 2
health specialist–in–training program approved by the Board; or 3
2. COMPLETED AN APPRENTICESHIP APP ROVED BY THE 4
BOARD; OR 5
(2) Has graduated from an accredited college or university with a master’s 6
degree in public or environmental health science that includes: 7
(i) A minimum of 30 semester credit hours or 45 quarter credit 8
hours of chemical, physical, biological, or environmental sciences acceptable to the Board 9
and obtained at the baccalaureate or master’s level; 10
(ii) A course in mathematics; 11
(iii) 3 months of internship approved by the Board if not previously 12
completed; and 13
(iv) Laboratory coursework as required in regulations adopted by the 14
Board. 15
(c) (1) This subsection does not alter the requirement that an applicant 16
demonstrate completion of a baccalaureate or master’s degree to qualify for examination. 17
(2) The Board may waive any of the specific course requirements for an 18
applicant to qualify for examination in subsection (b) of this section if the Board determines 19
that an applicant: 20
(i) Has obtained an equivalent number of credit hours in a course 21
relevant to practice as an environmental health specialist; or 22
(ii) Has work experience that is an acceptable substitute for a course 23
required in subsection (b) of this section. 24
(d) The examination required by the Board shall include a written examination 25
in the physical, biological, and environmental sciences that relates to practices and 26
principles of environmental health. 27
(e) The Board shall [administer]: 28
(1) ADMINISTER examinations to applicants at least once a year, at the 29
times and places that the Board determines; OR 30
4 SENATE BILL 222
(2) APPROVE AN EXAMINATIO N PROVIDER TO ADMINISTER THE 1
EXAMINATION TO APPLI CANTS. 2
[(f) The Board shall notify each qualified applicant of the time and place of 3
examination.] 4
[(g)] (F) [The] IF THE BOARD ADMINISTERS THE EXAMINATION , THE Board 5
shall: 6
(1) NOTIFY EACH QUALIFIED APPLICANT OF THE TIME AND PLAC E OF 7
THE EXAMINATION ; 8
[(1)] (2) Determine the subjects, scope, form, and passing score for 9
examinations; and 10
[(2)] (3) Use professional examinations prepared by recognized 11
examination agencies. 12
(G) IF A BOARD–APPROVED EXAMINATION PROVIDER ADMINISTERS THE 13
EXAMINATION , THE BOARD SHALL NOTIFY EA CH QUALIFIED APPLICA NT OF THE 14
REGISTRATION PROCEDU RE FOR THE EXAMINATI ON. 15
(h) An applicant who fails an examination may retake the examination as 16
provided in the rules and regulations adopted by the Board. 17
(i) The Board may waive any examination requirement under this section if the 18
Board recognizes the applicant as being outstanding in the field of environmental health. 19
21–305. 20
The Board shall adopt regulations that include: 21
(1) (i) The establishment of an environmental health 22
specialist–in–training program for applicants to obtain the necessary experience to qualify 23
to take the examination; and 24
(ii) A condition that a person may not participate in an 25
environmental health specialist–in–training program for more than 3 years, unless granted 26
an extension by the Board; [and] 27
(2) (i) The establishment of a seasonal environmental health 28
specialist–in–training program for individuals to be temporarily employed as 29
environmental health specialists; and 30
SENATE BILL 222 5
(ii) A condition that an individual may not participate in a seasonal 1
environmental health specialist–in–training program for more than 6 months within a 2
consecutive 12–month period; AND 3
(3) (I) THE REQUIREMENTS FOR BOARD APPROVAL OF AN 4
APPRENTICESHIP ; AND 5
(II) THE MINIMUM AND MAXIM UM DURATION OF AN 6
APPRENTICESHIP . 7
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 8
October 1, 2024. 9