Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Prohibited Disclosures

SB 815 prohibits the Maryland Department of Labor from requiring applicants for occupational licenses to disclose certain criminal history details, including arrests without conviction, deferred adjudications, diversion program participation, and some sealed or expunged convictions. It specifically bans asking about misdemeanor convictions without physical harm, convictions over 3 years old without imprisonment, and most other offenses after 7 years if no new charges occurred. The law requires the department to consider rehabilitation, job history, and public safety risks before denying a license, rather than automatically denying based on past criminal records. This directly affects individuals seeking state-licensed jobs (like cosmetologists, contractors, or healthcare workers) who have specific non-violent criminal histories.