An Act To Require The Board Of Counseling Professionals Licensure, Board Of Dental Practice, Board Of Speech, Audiology And Hearing And Board Of Occupational Therapy Practice To Obtain Fingerprint-Based Federal Bureau Of Investigation Criminal Background Checks For Initial Applicants And Licensees Seeking Compact Privileges

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Kristi Mathieson

Maine requires FBI fingerprint-based background checks for new licenses and for licensees seeking interstate compact privileges, with DPS handling processing and minor costs.

Signed by Governor

#backgroundchecks #healthcarepersonnel #licensing

Summary — LD 1854 (Signed into law June 18, 2025)

Title: An Act To Require The Board Of Counseling Professionals Licensure, Board Of Dental Practice, Board Of Speech, Audiology And Hearing And Board Of Occupational Therapy Practice To Obtain Fingerprint-Based Federal Bureau Of Investigation Criminal Background Checks For Initial Applicants And Licensees Seeking Compact Privileges

Status: Passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor (6/18/2025). Introduced 4/30/2025. Amended in committee (C “A” / H‑698) to add additional licensing boards.

Purpose

Require certain Maine professional licensing boards to obtain fingerprint‑based Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) criminal background checks for:
- initial licensure applicants, and
- existing licensees who seek compact privileges (i.e., to use interstate licensing compact privileges).

The change shifts or supplements background‑screening from state‑level checks to FBI fingerprint‑based checks for the specified circumstances.

Key provisions

Boards required (as enacted): originally the Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure, Board of Dental Practice, Board of Speech, Audiology and Hearing, and Board of Occupational Therapy Practice.

Committee amendment (adopted) expands covered boards to also include: State Board of Social Worker Licensure, Board of Osteopathic Licensure, and Board of Licensure in Medicine.

Applies to: initial applicants for licensure and currently licensed individuals only when they apply for compact privileges.

Background checks are to be fingerprint‑based FBI checks (consistent with national criminal history records checks).

Implementation will require boards to adopt any needed rules and to coordinate with the Maine Department of Public Safety (which conducts the checks).

Who is affected

Prospective licensees in the listed professions applying for initial Maine licensure.

Current Maine licensees in those professions who apply for interstate compact privileges.

The listed licensing boards (administrative responsibilities) and the Department of Public Safety (processing additional FBI checks).

Fiscal impact

Fiscal notes estimate minor cost increases to the General Fund, Highway Fund, and Other Special Revenue Funds and minor revenue increases to the General Fund and other special revenue funds from background check fees.

Additional rulemaking and processing costs are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.

Procedural/timeline notes

Committee work and amendment: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services; work session held 5/15/2025; reported Out OTP‑AM; amendment C “A” (H‑698) adopted 6/13/2025.

Passed by both chambers and enacted with Governor’s signature 6/18/2025.

Boards will need to complete any required rulemaking and operational arrangements with the Department of Public Safety before the new check requirement takes practical effect (no separate effective date specified in the summary documents).