MD
Maryland Senate Bill SB299

Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB299 Compare Versions

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33 EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
44 [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
55 Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
66 Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
77 amendment.
8- Italics indicate opposite chamber/conference committee amendments.
98 *sb0299*
109
1110 SENATE BILL 299
12-A3, C3 (5lr1425)
13-ENROLLED BILL
14-— Finance/Economic Matters —
15-Introduced by Senators Carozza and Feldman
16-
17-Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
18-
19-_______________________________________________
20-Proofreader.
21-_______________________________________________
22-Proofreader.
23-
24-Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
25-
26-_______ day of _______________ at _________________ _______ o’clock, ________M.
27-
28-______________________________________________
29-President.
11+A3, C3 5lr1425
12+ CF HB 1347
13+By: Senators Carozza and Feldman
14+Introduced and read first time: January 10, 2025
15+Assigned to: Finance
16+Committee Report: Favorable
17+Senate action: Adopted
18+Read second time: February 2, 2025
3019
3120 CHAPTER ______
3221
3322 AN ACT concerning 1
3423
35-Cannabis Agents – Registration – Security Guards and Security Guard 2
36-Employers – Registration, Certification, and Regulation 3
24+Cannabis Agents – Registration – Security Guards 2
3725
38-FOR the purpose of providing that a cannabis agent who is employed to provide security 4
39-services for a cannabis licensee or cannabis registrant as a security guard or by a 5
40-security guard agency is not required to obtain a State or national criminal history 6
41-records check if the cannabis agent is authorized to provide security guard services 7
42-in accordance with certain provisions of law; and generally relating to cannabis agent 8
43-registration and security guards altering the definition of “security guard employer” 9
44-for purposes of provisions of law governing the regulation of security guards, security 10
45-guard agencies, and security guard employers to exclude video lottery facilities, sports 11
46-wagering facility licensees, and health care facilities; and generally relating to the 12
47-registration, certification, and regulation of security guards and security guard 13
48-employers. 14
49- 2 SENATE BILL 299
26+FOR the purpose of providing that a cannabis agent who is employed to provide security 3
27+services for a cannabis licensee or cannabis registrant as a security guard or by a 4
28+security guard agency is not required to obtain a State or national criminal history 5
29+records check if the cannabis agent is authorized to provide security guard services 6
30+in accordance with certain provisions of law; and generally relating to cannabis agent 7
31+registration and security guards. 8
32+
33+BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
34+ Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 10
35+Section 36–501 11
36+ Annotated Code of Maryland 12
37+ (2024 Replacement Volume) 13
38+
39+BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 14
40+ Article – Business Occupations and Professions 15
41+Section 19–101(a), (k), and (l) 16
42+ Annotated Code of Maryland 17
43+ (2018 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 18
44+
45+ SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 19
46+That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 20
47+
48+Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 21 2 SENATE BILL 299
5049
5150
52-BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 1
53- Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 2
54-Section 36–501 3
55- Annotated Code of Maryland 4
56- (2024 Replacement Volume) 5
5751
58-BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 6
59- Article – Business Occupations and Professions 7
60-Section 19–101(a), (k), and (l), 19–201, and 19–401(c) 8
61- Annotated Code of Maryland 9
62- (2018 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 10
52+36–501. 1
6353
64-BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
65- Article – Business Occupations and Professions 12
66- Section 19–101(m) 13
67- Annotated Code of Maryland 14
68- (2018 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 15
54+ (a) A cannabis agent must be registered with the Administration before the agent 2
55+may volunteer or work for a cannabis licensee or cannabis registrant. 3
6956
70-BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 16
71- Article – State Government 17
72- Section 9–1A–14(a) and (b) and 9–1E–03(a)(1) 18
73- Annotated Code of Maryland 19
74- (2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 20
57+ (b) A cannabis agent registration is valid for 2 years. 4
7558
76- SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 21
77-That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 22
59+ (c) (1) [To] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS 5
60+SUBSECTION, TO register as a cannabis agent with the Administration, an individual 6
61+must: 7
7862
79-Article – Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis 23
63+ [(1)] (I) be at least 21 years old; and 8
8064
81-36–501. 24
65+ [(2)] (II) if the records are legally accessible, obtain a State and national 9
66+criminal history records check in accordance with § 36–505 of this subtitle. 10
8267
83- (a) A cannabis agent must be registered with the Administration before the agent 25
84-may volunteer or work for a cannabis licensee or cannabis registrant. 26
68+ (2) A CANNABIS AGENT WHO IS EMPLOYED TO PROVIDE SECURITY 11
69+SERVICES FOR A CANNA BIS LICENSEE OR CANN ABIS REGISTRANT AS A SECURITY 12
70+GUARD OR BY A SECURITY GUA RD AGENCY, AS DEFINED IN § 19–101 OF THE 13
71+BUSINESS OCCUPATIONS AND PROFESSIONS ARTICLE, IS NOT REQUIRED TO 14
72+OBTAIN A STATE OR NATIONAL CRIMINAL HI STORY RECORDS CHECK IN 15
73+ACCORDANCE WITH § 36–505 OF THIS SUBTITLE IF THE CANNABIS AGENT IS 16
74+AUTHORIZED TO PROVID E SECURITY GUARD SER VICES UNDER TITLE 19, SUBTITLE 17
75+4 OF THE BUSINESS OCCUPATIONS AND PROFESSIONS ARTICLE. 18
8576
86- (b) A cannabis agent registration is valid for 2 years. 27
77+ (d) (1) The Administration may not register as a cannabis agent an individual 19
78+who does not meet the criteria established under subsection (c) of this section. 20
8779
88- (c) (1) [To] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS 28
89-SUBSECTION, TO register as a cannabis agent with the Administration, an individual 29
90-must: 30
80+ (2) The Administration may disqualify an individual from registering as a 21
81+cannabis agent if the individual has been convicted of or pleaded nolo contendere to a crime 22
82+involving moral turpitude, whether or not any appeal or other proceeding is pending to 23
83+have the conviction or plea set aside. 24
9184
92- [(1)] (I) be at least 21 years old; and 31
85+ (e) The Administration may not deny a cannabis agent registration based on any 25
86+cannabis–related offenses occurring before July 1, 2023. 26
9387
94- [(2)] (II) if the records are legally accessible, obtain a State and national 32
95-criminal history records check in accordance with § 36–505 of this subtitle. 33
88+ (f) A cannabis licensee shall require each registered cannabis agent to complete 27
89+an annual responsible vendor training program authorized under this title. 28
90+
91+ (g) A registration of a cannabis agent issued by the Natalie M. LaPrade Medical 29
92+Cannabis Commission on or before July 1, 2023, shall: 30
93+
94+ (1) be valid under this title; and 31
9695 SENATE BILL 299 3
9796
9897
99- (2) A CANNABIS AGENT WHO I S EMPLOYED TO PROVID E SECURITY 1
100-SERVICES FOR A CANNA BIS LICENSEE OR CANN ABIS REGISTRANT AS A SECURITY 2
101-GUARD OR BY A SECURI TY GUARD AGENCY , AS DEFINED IN § 19–101 OF THE 3
102-BUSINESS OCCUPATIONS AND PROFESSIONS ARTICLE, IS NOT REQUIRED TO 4
103-OBTAIN A STATE OR NATIONAL CRI MINAL HISTORY RECORD S CHECK IN 5
104-ACCORDANCE WITH § 36–505 OF THIS SUBTITLE IF THE CANNABIS AGENT I S 6
105-AUTHORIZED TO PROVID E SECURITY GUARD SERVICES UNDER TITLE 19, SUBTITLE 7
106-4 OF THE BUSINESS OCCUPATIONS AND PROFESSIONS ARTICLE. 8
98+ (2) authorize the cannabis agent to be employed by or volunteer with a 1
99+licensed cannabis business. 2
107100
108- (d) (1) The Administration may not register as a cannabis agent an individual 9
109-who does not meet the criteria established under subsection (c) of this section. 10
101+Article – Business Occupations and Professions 3
110102
111- (2) The Administration may disqualify an individual from registering as a 11
112-cannabis agent if the individual has been convicted of or pleaded nolo contendere to a crime 12
113-involving moral turpitude, whether or not any appeal or other proceeding is pending to 13
114-have the conviction or plea set aside. 14
103+19–101. 4
115104
116- (e) The Administration may not deny a cannabis agent registration based on any 15
117-cannabis–related offenses occurring before July 1, 2023. 16
105+ (a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 5
118106
119- (f) A cannabis licensee shall require each registered cannabis agent to complete 17
120-an annual responsible vendor training program authorized under this title. 18
107+ (k) “Security guard” means an individual who, regardless of whether the 6
108+individual is described as a security guard, watchman, or private patrolman or by other 7
109+title: 8
121110
122- (g) A registration of a cannabis agent issued by the Natalie M. LaPrade Medical 19
123-Cannabis Commission on or before July 1, 2023, shall: 20
111+ (1) (i) is an employee of a security guard agency; and 9
124112
125- (1) be valid under this title; and 21
113+ (ii) provides security guard services to another person on behalf of 10
114+the security guard agency; or 11
126115
127- (2) authorize the cannabis agent to be employed by or volunteer with a 22
128-licensed cannabis business. 23
116+ (2) (i) is an employee of a security guard employer; and 12
129117
130-Article – Business Occupations and Professions 24
118+ (ii) provides security guard services to the security guard employer. 13
131119
132-19–101. 25
120+ (l) (1) “Security guard agency” means a person who conducts a business that 14
121+provides security guard services. 15
133122
134- (a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 26
123+ (2) “Security guard agency” does not include: 16
135124
136- (k) “Security guard” means an individual who, regardless of whether the 27
137-individual is described as a security guard, watchman, or private patrolman or by other 28
138-title: 29
125+ (i) a person that is primarily engaged in the business of owning, 17
126+maintaining, or otherwise managing property; or 18
139127
140- (1) (i) is an employee of a security guard agency; and 30
128+ (ii) a security guard employer. 19
141129
142- (ii) provides security guard services to another person on behalf of 31
143-the security guard agency; or 32
144- 4 SENATE BILL 299
145-
146-
147- (2) (i) is an employee of a security guard employer; and 1
148-
149- (ii) provides security guard services to the security guard employer. 2
150-
151- (l) (1) “Security guard agency” means a person who conducts a business that 3
152-provides security guard services. 4
153-
154- (2) “Security guard agency” does not include: 5
155-
156- (i) a person that is primarily engaged in the business of owning, 6
157-maintaining, or otherwise managing property; or 7
158-
159- (ii) a security guard employer. 8
160-
161- (m) (1) “Security guard employer” means a person who employs security guards 9
162-only to provide security guard services to the person. 10
163-
164- (2) “Security guard employer” does not include: 11
165-
166- (I) a security guard agency; 12
167-
168- (II) A VIDEO LOTTERY OPER ATOR, AS DEFINED UNDER § 13
169-9–1A–01 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE; 14
170-
171- (III) A SPORTS WAGERING FA CILITY LICENSEE , AS DEFINED 15
172-UNDER § 9–1E–01 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE; OR 16
173-
174- (IV) A HEALTH CARE FACILI TY, AS DEFINED UNDER § 19–114 OF 17
175-THE HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE. 18
176-
177-19–201. 19
178-
179- Subject to the provisions of this title, the Secretary is responsible for the licensing of 20
180-security guard agencies and the regulation of those persons who provide security guard 21
181-services in the State. 22
182-
183-19–401. 23
184-
185- (c) Except as provided under subsection (d) of this section, a security guard 24
186-employer may employ a security guard to provide security guard services only if the 25
187-individual is certified by the Secretary as a security guard. 26
188-
189-Article – State Government 27
190-
191-9–1A–14. 28
192- SENATE BILL 299 5
193-
194-
195- (a) Unless an individual holds a valid video lottery employee license or temporary 1
196-video lottery employee license issued by the Commission, the individual may not be employed 2
197-by a video lottery operation licensee as a video lottery employee. 3
198-
199- (b) Before issuance of a video lottery employee license, an applicant shall provide 4
200-sufficient information, documentation, and assurances that the Commission may require. 5
201-
202-9–1E–03. 6
203-
204- (a) (1) Unless the context requires otherwise, the requirements under §§ 7
205-9–1A–04, 9–1A–06, 9–1A–07, 9–1A–08, 9–1A–12, 9–1A–14, 9–1A–18, 9–1A–19, 9–1A–20, and 8
206-9–1A–25 of this title apply to the authority, duties, and responsibilities of the Commission, 9
207-a sports wagering licensee, and an employee or a contractor of a sports wagering licensee 10
208-under this subtitle. 11
209-
210- SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 12
211-October 1, 2025. 13
212-
130+ SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 20
131+October 1, 2025. 21
213132
214133
215134
216135 Approved:
217136 ________________________________________________________________________________
218137 Governor.
219138 ________________________________________________________________________________
220139 President of the Senate.
221140 ________________________________________________________________________________
222141 Speaker of the House of Delegates.