Child Care Facilities - Criminal History Records Check - Requirement

SB 359 requires all individuals seeking positions involving direct contact with children in Maryland child care facilities to undergo a criminal history records check. It directs the State Department of Education to create a centralized unit to process and manage these checks, with timelines for status updates (10 days) and eligibility decisions (45 days). The bill also establishes strict confidentiality for background check information, prohibits unauthorized sharing, and amends probationary employment rules for first-time child care teachers. This applies directly to child care facilities, their employees, and applicants for such roles, effective October 1, 2026.