5082                                                    VETOES

Harry Hughes
Governor

Senate Bill No. 483

AN ACT concerning

Fire Fighters, Rescue Squad Members, and Paramedics -
Criminal Record Check

FOR the purpose of allowing criminal record checks on
applicants for a volunteer or paid fire fighter, rescue
squad member, or paramedic position; providing that
these applicants upon request provide a set of
fingerprints to certain State authorities; and
providing that information regarding criminal
convictions may be considered when hiring these
applicants; and generally relating to criminal record
checks for fire fighters, rescue squad members, and
paramedics.

BY adding to

Article 38A - Fires and Investigations

Section 7A

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1978 Replacement Volume and 1981 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
read(s) as follows:

Article 38A - Fires and Investigations

7A.

(A)   SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 27, SECTIONS
742 THROUGH 755, FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND RESCUE SQUADS OF THE
STATE OR ANY OF ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS AND VOLUNTEER
FIRE COMPANIES AND RESCUE SQUADS MAY REQUEST A CRIMINAL
RECORD CHECK ON ALL APPLICANTS FOR EMPLOYMENT OR APPOINTMENT
AS VOLUNTEER OR PAID FIRE FIGHTERS, RESCUE SQUAD MEMBERS, OR
PARAMEDICS.

(B)  (1) EVERY UPON REQUEST BY AN EMPLOYING OR
APPOINTING ENTITY UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION, AN
APPLICANT FOR APPOINTMENT TO OR EMPLOYMENT TO WITH A FIRE
DEPARTMENT, VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY OR ANY RESCUE SQUAD SHALL