SB 648

Local School Systems - Educator Screening - Educator Identification Clearinghouse (School Personnel Vetting and Hiring Transparency Act)

Sponsor: Shelly Hettleman (District 11)Committee: Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentSubject: Primary and Secondary EducationStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 363 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring the State Department of Education to register each local school system in the State as an associate member of a certain national membership organization; and requiring each local school system in the State to utilize the Educator Identification Clearinghouse to screen individuals who receive an offer of employment on or after August 1, 2026, for an educator position that requires a license and ensure that each individual who receives an offer applies for and obtains the appropriate license before certain occurrences.

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Testimony (19)

MGA witness list

FAV 12FavorableFWA 3Favorable with amendmentsUNF 3UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Sterrette, Dawana	Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners	Written (PDF)
FAV	Margolis, Leslielobbyist	Disability Rights Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hettleman, Shelly	MGA- Senator Hettleman	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mathias, Sam	Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE	Written (PDF)
FAV	Cratsley, Laurel	Maryland State Department of Education	Written (PDF)
FAV	Adams, Jimmy	NASDTEC	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Proctor, Karessa	NASW Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Proctor, Karessa	NASW Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Fannon, Mary Patlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Jarrett, Beth	Individual	Position only
FAV	Senator Hettleman, Senator Hettlemanlegislator	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Hettleman, Senator Hettlemanlegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Lerol, Travis	Travis Lerol	Position only
UNF	Tibbals, Trudy	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Tibbals, Trudy	Individual	Position only
FWA	Mathias, Sam	Maryland Association of Boards of Education	Written (PDF)
FWA	Cratsley, Laurel	Maryland State Department of Education	Written (PDF)
FWA	Fannon, Mary Patlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Streett, Matthew	Office of Legislative Audits	Oral