EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0171*
HOUSE BILL 171
E4 5lr1414
HB 329/24 – JUD (PRE–FILED) CF SB 180
By: Delegate Valentine
Requested: October 26, 2024
Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
Assigned to: Judiciary
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Public Safety – Handgun Permits – Expiration and Renewal Periods for Retired 2
Law Enforcement Officer 3
FOR the purpose of establishing alternative expiration and renewal periods for a handgun 4
permit issued to a certain retired law enforcement officer; and generally relating to 5
handgun permits. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 7
Article – Public Safety 8
Section 5–301(a) and (c) and 5–304(b)(1) and (d)(2) 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 11
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
Article – Public Safety 13
Section 5–309 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 16
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 17
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 18
Article – Public Safety 19
5–301. 20
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 21
(c) “Permit” means a permit issued by the Secretary to carry, wear, or transport 22
a handgun. 23 2 HOUSE BILL 171
5–304. 1
(b) (1) Subject to subsections (c) and (d) of this section, the Secretary may 2
charge a nonrefundable fee payable when an application is filed for a permit. 3
(d) The Secretary may not charge a fee under subsection (b) of this section to: 4
(2) a retired law enforcement officer of the State or a county or municipal 5
corporation of the State. 6
5–309. 7
(a) Except as provided in [subsection] SUBSECTIONS (d) AND (E) of this section, 8
a permit expires on the last day of the holder’s birth month following 2 years after the date 9
the permit is issued. 10
(b) [Subject] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (E) OF THIS SECTION 11
AND SUBJECT to subsection (c) of this section, a permit may be renewed for successive 12
periods of 3 years each if, at the time of an application for renewal, the applicant possesses 13
the qualifications for the issuance of a permit and pays the renewal fee stated in this 14
subtitle. 15
(c) A person who applies for a renewal of a permit is not required to be 16
fingerprinted unless the Secretary requires a set of the person’s fingerprints to resolve a 17
question of the person’s identity. 18
(d) The Secretary may establish an alternative expiration date for a permit to 19
coincide with the expiration of a license, certification, or commission for: 20
(1) a private detective under Title 13 of the Business Occupations and 21
Professions Article; 22
(2) a security guard under Title 19 of the Business Occupations and 23
Professions Article; or 24
(3) a special police officer under § 3–306 of this article. 25
(E) A PERMIT ISSUED TO A R ETIRED LAW ENFORCEME NT OFFICER WHO 26
RETIRED IN GOOD STAN DING FROM SERVICE WI TH A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY 27
OF THE STATE OR A COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATIO N OF THE STATE: 28
(1) EXPIRES ON THE LAST DAY OF THE HOLDER ’S BIRTH MONT H 29
FOLLOWING 5 YEARS AFTER THE DATE THE PERMIT IS ISSUED ; AND 30
(2) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTIO N (C) OF THIS SECTION, MAY BE RENEWED 31 HOUSE BILL 171 3
FOR SUCCESSIVE PERIO DS OF 5 YEARS EACH IF, AT THE TIME OF AN AP PLICATION 1
FOR RENEWAL , THE APPLICANT POSSES SES THE QUALIFICATIO NS FOR THE 2
ISSUANCE OF A PERMIT . 3
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 4
October 1, 2025. 5