Title 17. Laboratories — Subtitle 6. Biological Agents Registry Program
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. § 17-601 (2026)
Title 17. Laboratories
Subtitle 6. Biological Agents Registry Program
§ 17–601LinkCopy Citation
(a)
In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b)
“Biological agent” means any biological agent as defined in Title 42, Part 73 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or Title 9, Part 121 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(c)
“Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems” means the unit described in § 13-503 of the Education Article.
(d)
“Person” includes State and federal units of government.
(e)
“Program” means the Biological Agents Registry Program.
Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. § 17-602 (2026)
Title 17. Laboratories
Subtitle 6. Biological Agents Registry Program
§ 17–602LinkCopy Citation
(a)
There is a Biological Agents Registry Program in the Department.
(b)
The Biological Agents Registry shall:
(1)
Identify the biological agents possessed and maintained by any person in this State; and
(2)
Contain other information as required by regulations adopted by the Department.
(c)
The Department shall adopt regulations for the implementation of the Program that:
(1)
Determine and list the biological agents required to be reported under this subtitle;
(2)
Designate the persons required to make reports and the specific information required to be reported;
(3)
Designate time limits for reporting, the form of reports, and the persons to whom reports are to be submitted;
(4)
Require local jurisdictions to be informed of the location and nature of each biological agent in the Registry that is located within the local jurisdiction;
(5)
Provide for the release of information in the Biological Agents Registry to:
(i)
State and federal law enforcement agencies and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pursuant to a communicable disease investigation commenced or conducted by the Department or other State or federal law enforcement agency having investigatory authority, or in connection with any investigation involving release, theft, or loss of biological agents;
(ii)
The Maryland Department of Emergency Management and the Maryland Department of the Environment for the purposes of planning for the protection of the public in relation to the release of a biological agent and the prevention of a release of a biological agent; and
(iii)
The Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems for the purposes of providing certain specified information to:
(1)
A police officer, as defined in § 3–201(f) of the Public Safety Article, responding to an emergency; and
(2)
A fire, rescue, or emergency medical services entity, as defined in § 7–101 of the Public Safety Article, performing emergency services, responding to a fire or other emergency, or dispatched on a call for emergency services;
(6)
Establish a system of safeguards that requires persons possessing, maintaining, and transferring biological agents subject to this subtitle to comply with the same federal standards that apply to persons registered to transfer the same agents under federal law; and
(7)
Establish a process for persons that possess and maintain biological agents to alert appropriate authorities of unauthorized possession or attempted possession of biological agents.
Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. § 17-603 (2026)
Title 17. Laboratories
Subtitle 6. Biological Agents Registry Program
§ 17–603LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, any person that possesses and maintains any biological agent shall report to the Department the information required by the Department for inclusion in the Biological Agents Registry.
(b)
Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to a biological agent or a certified laboratory or facility that is exempt from the requirements for the interstate shipment of etiologic agents under Title 42, Part 72.6(h) or Part 72, Appendix A of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. § 17-604 (2026)
Title 17. Laboratories
Subtitle 6. Biological Agents Registry Program
§ 17–604LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, information prepared for or maintained in the Biological Agents Registry shall be confidential and is not subject to Title 4 of the General Provisions Article.
(b)
Release of information from the Registry as authorized by regulations adopted under § 17-602(c) of this subtitle shall not render the information released a public record.
(c)
A person or entity to whom specified information has been released from the Registry as authorized by regulations adopted under § 17-602(c) of this subtitle may not release the information unless the release is approved by the Biological Agents Registry Program.
Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. § 17-605 (2026)
Title 17. Laboratories
Subtitle 6. Biological Agents Registry Program
§ 17–605LinkCopy Citation
(a)
A person who violates any provision of this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $100 for the first offense and not exceeding $500 for each subsequent conviction for a violation of the same provision.
(b)
Each day a violation is continued after the first conviction is a subsequent offense.