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<section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="3-209" title_number="3" title_name="Law Enforcement" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The Commission shall certify as a police officer each individual who:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>satisfactorily meets the standards of the Commission; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>provides the Commission with sufficient evidence that the individual has satisfactorily completed a training program in another state of equal quality and content as required by the Commission;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>submits to a mental health screening by a licensed mental health professional;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>submits to a physical agility assessment as determined by the Commission;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>submits to a criminal history records check in accordance with § 3–209.1 of this subtitle; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <level label="i">
        <text>is a United States citizen; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>subject to subsection (b) of this section, is a permanent legal resident of the United States and an honorably discharged veteran, provided that the individual has applied to obtain United States citizenship and the application is still pending approval.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The certification of a police officer who fails to obtain United States citizenship as required by subsection (a)(5)(ii) of this section shall be terminated by the Commission.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The Commission may certify as a police officer an individual who is not considered a police officer under § 3–201(f)(3) of this subtitle if the individual meets the selection and training standards of the Commission.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>Each certificate issued to a police officer under this subtitle remains the property of the Commission.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>As a condition of certification, a police officer shall submit to a mental health assessment every 2 years and an annual physical agility assessment to establish continuing fitness to carry out the officer’s assigned duties as a police officer.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>Prior cannabis use is not a disqualifier for certification as a police officer.</text>
  </level>
</section>
